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Lobelia cardinalis
This plant was spotted in the wetlands area off the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows Park. "Lobelia cardinalis (syn. L. fulgens, Cardinal Flower) is a species of Lobelia native to the Americas, from southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia.[1] It grows to about a meter tall (when in flower) and has bright red flowers. Cardinal flower is often cultivated for ornamental purposes and has also been used for medicinal purposes.It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to 1.2 m tall and is found in wet places, streambanks, and swamps. The leaves are up to 20 cm long and 5 cm 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 tall during the summer to fall. Forms with white (f. alba) and pink (f. rosea) flowers are also known."