It is a
perennialherbaceous plant that grows up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall and is found in wet places, streambanks, and swamps. The
leaves are up to 20 cm (8 in) long and 5 cm (2 in) broad,
lanceolate to oval, with a toothed margin. The
flowers are usually vibrant red, deeply five-lobed, up to 4 cm across; they are produced in an erect
raceme up to 70 cm (28 in) tall during the summer to fall. Forms with white (f. alba) and pink (f. rosea) flowers are also known.[5] It grows along streams, springs, swamps, and in low wooded areas.[6]
Lobelia cardinalis is related to two other Lobelia species in to the Eastern United States, Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) and Lobelia siphilitica (great lobelia); all display the characteristic "lip" petal near the opening of the flower and the "milky" liquid the plant excretes. L. siphilitica has blue flowers and is primarily pollinated by bees, whereas L. cardinalis is red and is primarily pollinated by the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris).[7]
Etymology
It was introduced to Europe in the mid-1620s, where the name cardinal flower was in use by 1629, likely due to the similarity of the flower's color to the vesture of Roman Catholic
Cardinals.[8]
This plant is easily propagated by seed and dividing out the young plants which form around the older mature plants each year. Although the plant is generally considered a perennial, they may be short lived. They prefer moist soils in part shade.[11]
Medicinal and other uses
The
Zuni people use this plant as an ingredient of "schumaakwe cakes" and used it externally for rheumatism and swelling.[12] The
Penobscot people smoked the dried leaves as a substitute for tobacco. It may also have been chewed.[13]
Toxicity
As a member of the
genusLobelia, it is considered to be potentially toxic.[14] Symptoms of ingestion of large quantities include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma.[15] The plant contains a number of toxic
alkaloids including
lobelamine and
lobeline.[15]
^Caruso, C. M.; Peterson, S. B.; Ridley, C. E. (2003), "Natural selection on floral traits of Lobelia (Lobeliaceae): spatial and temporal variation", American Journal of Botany, 90 (9): 1333–40,
doi:10.3732/ajb.90.9.1333,
PMID21659233