Great Blue Lobelia, Blue Cardinal Flower - Lobelia siphilitica
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Lobelia siphilitica - Great Blue Lobelia, Blue Cardinal Flower. The species epithet is because at one time it was believed the plant was used by native Americans to treat syphilis. Ingestion of the root can cause vomiting. It should be considered poisonous.
While the flowers are usually blue, in rare cases they may be white.
Found in:
AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY, GS
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Distribution of Lobelia siphilitica in the United States and Canada:
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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| | Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-August-26 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson | | Great Blue Lobelia has the 'normal' but interesting petal structure for lobelias, with two lips, the upper lip being split with two lobes, and the lower lip having three lobes. The stamens form a tube around the style. | | 
| | Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-October-19 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson | | Notice the stigma has emerged from the tube formed by the stamen in this mature Lobelia siphilitica specimen. | | 
| | Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2012-August-27 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The older photos on this page were taken after sunset with long exposures, skewing the colors. This photo is closer to true. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia Date: 2014-September-03 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | Roadside Great Blue Lobelia on the Blue Ridge Parkway in western Virginia. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2014-September-10 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | While most publications report Great Blue Lobelia as 3 to 4 feet tall, clearly this one is taller, as I am 5 feet 9 inches tall. I might be standing in a small depression, but if so it is no more than 4 inches deep. This plant is at least 5 feet tall, I think more likely 6. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-October-19 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson | | While a few blossoms remain along the plant, the Great Blue Lobelia seeds are developing by mid-October in north Georgia. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
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References used for identification and information:
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