Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis
Campanulaceae or Bluebell Family
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Erect herb, 2 to 5 feet tall. Leaves lance-shaped, pointed, toothed, almost stalkless. Flowers large and showy, scarlet, in dense to open spikes at top of plant. Flowers irregular with five lobes. Scarlet stamens protrude between the upper lobes.
Blooms in summer.
A striking plant of streamsides and wet meadows. Although native to this part of Virginia, it is not really native to the Park. Specimens that were planted in the Butterfly meadows have apparently died out. Plants can be seen along Connelly's Run, where they were planted for erosion control. The showy scarlet flowers are not likely to be mistaken for anything else in the Park. |
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