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Cardinal Flower with a Blue Dasher dragonfly

Lobelia cardinalis

Description:

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."

Habitat:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntl...

1 Species ID Suggestions

Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis Lobelia cardinalis


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3 Comments

ChristyBeckwith
ChristyBeckwith 11 years ago

One of my favorite flowers. Beautiful!

Louisa
Louisa 11 years ago

Thank you very much dandoucette!

Dan Doucette
Dan Doucette 11 years ago

I've always liked these flowers. You have a great dragonfly there too!

Louisa
Spotted by
Louisa

Virginia, USA

Spotted on Jul 12, 2012
Submitted on Jul 15, 2012

Related Spottings

White Lobelia Lobelia Lobelia Lobelia

Nearby Spottings

Crayfish burrow (chimney) Great Egret (catches a fish) Blue Flag Irises Common Whitetail dragonfly (teneral female)

Reference

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