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Campanulaceae
Lobelia

Lobelia inflata Linnaeus. Common name: Indian-tobacco. Phenology: Jul-Nov. Habitat: Fields, meadows, gardens, open woodlands, disturbed areas. Distribution: PE west to MN, south to GA, AL, se. MS, e. LA, s. AR, and se. OK.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy : = Ar, C, F, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, McVaugh (1936a), Spaulding & Barger (2016); > Lobelia inflata L. var. inflata — WV; > Lobelia inflata L. var. simplex (Raf.) Millsp. — WV. Basionym: Lobelia inflata L. 1753

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Wetland Indicator Status:

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

Heliophily : 6

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image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© theo_witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by theo_witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Slender, erect annual found in fields, meadows, gardens, open woodlands and disturbed areas.

Stems: Stems branched and hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, , mostly sessile, oval-oblong, to 3 in. long, toothed.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in loose, narrow racemes terminating the stem and branches, each on a short stalk flanked by inconspicuous bracts. Flowers about ¼ in. long; pale-blue; bilaterally symmetric and tubular; opening to 2 spreading lips, the upper one divided into 2 sharp lobes, the lower into 3 sharp lobes. The tubular calyx is bell-shaped, veined, and has 5 sharp-pointed, lance-shaped lobes.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: 6-36 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Slender, erect annual found in fields, meadows, gardens, open woodlands and disturbed areas.

stems: Stems branched and hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, , mostly sessile, oval-oblong, to 3 in. long, toothed.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in loose, narrow racemes terminating the stem and branches, each on a short stalk flanked by inconspicuous bracts. Flowers about ¼ in. long; pale-blue; bilaterally symmetric and tubular; opening to 2 spreading lips, the upper one divided into 2 sharp lobes, the lower into 3 sharp lobes. The tubular calyx is bell-shaped, veined, and has 5 sharp-pointed, lance-shaped lobes.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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