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Lobelia puberula Michaux. Common name: Downy Lobelia, Purple Dewdrop. Phenology: Jul-Oct. Habitat: Forests, openings. Distribution: NJ, se. PA, s. OH,s. IN, s. IL, se. MO, AR, and OK, south to c. peninsular FL and s. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: A number of varieties are sometimes recognized; see synonymy and references.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl7, G, GW2, K4, Mo2, NcTx, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, McVaugh (1936a), Spaulding & Barger (2016); = Lobelia puberula Michx. var. puberula — Spaulding & Barger (2016); > Lobelia puberula Michx. — McVaugh (1936a); > Lobelia puberula Michx. — McVaugh (1936a); > Lobelia puberula Michx. var. mineolana E.Wimm. — F; > Lobelia puberula Michx. var. pauciflora Bush; > Lobelia puberula Michx. var. puberula — F; > Lobelia puberula Michx. var. simulans Fernald — F, Il. Basionym: Lobelia puberula Michx. 1803

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Great Plains: FACW
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of forests and openings.

Stems: Stems mostly unbranched, purple-tinged and hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, oval to lance-shaped, to 4½ in. long, the margins with tiny callus-tipped teeth, hairy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in a crowded terminal spike, each on a spreading-ascending short stalk flanked by 2 leaf-like bracts; bluish-purple; ½-1 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and tubular; opening to 2 spreading lips, the upper one divided into 2 narrow, erect lobes and the lower one divided into 3 wider lobes with white markings. The short-tubular calyx has 4 lance-shaped lobes.

Fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.

Comments:

Height: 2-4 ft.

plant sale text: Lobelias are generally easy to grow, as well as attractive to butterflies, and this species is no exception. Downy Lobelia is similar to Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) though it is taller and more delicate in appearance. The species name puberula refers to its pubescent, or hairy, stems and leaves. Plants of this species have been found growing in nearly every county in North Carolina. They thrive in bogs, meadows and woodlands.

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of forests and openings.

stems: Stems mostly unbranched, purple-tinged and hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, oval to lance-shaped, to 4½ in. long, the margins with tiny callus-tipped teeth, hairy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in a crowded terminal spike, each on a spreading-ascending short stalk flanked by 2 leaf-like bracts; bluish-purple; ½-1 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and tubular; opening to 2 spreading lips, the upper one divided into 2 narrow, erect lobes and the lower one divided into 3 wider lobes with white markings. The short-tubular calyx has 4 lance-shaped lobes.

fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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