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Lobelia cardinalis
| Common name: |
Cardinal Flower |
Family: |
Campanulaceae |
| Author: |
L. |
Botanical references: |
43, 200 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
The plant is potentially toxic, but the degree of toxicity is unknown[222]. It contains the alkaloid lobeline which has a similar effect upon the nervous system as nicotine[274].
he sap of the plant has been known to cause skin irritation[274]. |
| Range: |
N. America - New Brunswick to Quebec, south to Florida and Texas. |
| Habitat: |
Damp shores, meadows and swamps[43]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
0 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 3 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| L. cardinalis ssp. graminea[B]
L. cardinalis subsp. graminea[G]
L. cardinalis var. graminea[B]
L. cardinalis var. meridionalis[B]
L. cardinalis var. multiflora[B]
L. cardinalis var. phyllostachya[B]
L. cardinalis var. propinqua[B]
L. cardinalis var. pseudosplendens[B]
L. cardinalis2[Shl]
L. fulgens[B,G]
L. graminea[G]
L. splendens[B,G]
|
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Cardinal Flower [S,H], Cardinal-flower [B,L], Cardinalflower [P], Lobelia, Red [S], Red Lobelia [H], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
cardinalis = red;
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA
Plants Database |
|
Order: Campanulales. Bellflower family
|
Physical Characteristics
Perennial growing to 1m by 0.25m . It is hardy to zone 3 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs).
We rate it 0/5 for edibility and
3/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist or wet soil and can grow in water.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Pond, Bog Garden.Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Analgesic; Anthelmintic; Antispasmodic; Emetic; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Homeopathy; Nervine; Stomachic.
Emetic, expectorant and nervine[4, 61].
The root is analgesic, anthelmintic, antispasmodic and stomachic[4, 61,
257]. A tea made from the roots has been used in the treatment of epilepsy,
syphilis, typhoid, stomach aches, cramps, worms etc[222, 257]. A poultice of
the roots has been applied to sores that are hard to heal[257].
The leaves are analgesic and febrifuge[257]. A tea made from the leaves is
used in the treatment of croup, nosebleeds, colds, fevers, headaches
etc[222]. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to the head to relieve
the pain of headaches[257].
This species is considered to have similar medicinal activity to L. inflata,
but in a milder form[222]. It was seldom if ever used[222].
The plant is used to make a homeopathic remedy[4]. The report does not say
which part of the plant is used, nor what it treats.
Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details
Requires a deep rich soil and plenty of moisture[1, 200]. Grows well in
heavy clay soils. Succeeds in standing water though is not then so long
lived[200]. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[200]. Requires protection
from the wind[200].
Dormant plants are hardy to at least -25°c[187], though they can be excited
into premature growth in mild winter areas and are then more susceptible to
frost damage[200].
A very ornamental plant[1].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus.
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[200]. When they
are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and
grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into
their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last
expected frosts.
Division in spring[200].
Basal cuttings in spring[1]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm
long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and
keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting
well. Plant them out in the summer.
Layering in moist sand, it forms roots at the nodes[200].
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
Web References
- Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [V] Images
from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A&M Bioinformatics Working Group.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [S] Image
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [S] Illustration
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [S] SW USA Dist. Maps
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [S] Image
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [S] Illustration
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [C] Taxon data.
from the CalFlora database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for Lobelia cardinalis2 (a possible synonym).
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[43] Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950
A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
Readers Comments
Main Search Page
Bibliography
Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
Species Database.
Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963 This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Lobelia+cardinalis
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lobelia+cardinalis
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