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Great Blue Lobelia - Lobelia siphilitica


Family: Campanulaceae - Bellflower family Genus Common Name: Lobelia Native Status: Native
Lobelia siphilitica - Great Blue Lobelia. The species epithet is because at one time it was believed the plant was used by native American to treat syphilis. Ingestion of the root can cause vomiting. It should be considered poisonous. References: * Wildflowers of Tennesse by Jack B. Carman * National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers Eastern
Distribution of Lobelia siphilitica in the United States and Canada:
USDA Plants Distribution Map
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 09 Sep 2010). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-August-26Photographer: 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.
Lobelia siphilitica
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-October-19Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Notice the stigma has emerged from the tube formed by the stamen in this mature Lobelia siphilitica specimen.
Lobelia siphilitica
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-August-26Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lobelia siphilitica
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-October-19Photographer: 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
Lobelia siphilitica

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2010
Photographs Copyrighted by the named photographer


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