Lobelia Surinamensis Shrubby Lobelia

<p><em>Class and Order.</em></p>

<p>Syngenesia Monogamia.</p>

<p><em>Generic Character.</em></p>

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<p><em>Cal.</em> 5-fidus. <em>Cor.</em> 1-petala, irregularis. <em>Caps.</em> infera, 2 sive 3-locularis. </p>

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<p><em>Specific Character and Synonyms.</em></p>

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<p>LOBELIA <em>surinamensis</em> caule suffruticoso, foliis oblongis glabris serratis, floribus axillaribus pedunculatis. <em>Ait. Kew. V. 3. p. 498. Sp. Pl. 1320.</em></p>

<p>LOBELIA <em>l&aelig;vigata</em> foliis ellipticis serratis glabris, capsulis grossis globosis, calycibus subulatis, corollis glaberrimis. <em>Linn. Suppl. p. 392.</em> </p>

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<div> <img src="/images/flowers/img018tb.jpg" alt="" title="" height="400" width="256" /> No225. <br />

<a href="/images/flowers/img018.jpg">View larger image</a> </div>

<p>The Lobelia surinamensis, a plant newly introduced here, is minutely described in the <em>Suppl. Pl.</em> of the younger Linn&aelig;us, under the name of <em>l&aelig;vigata</em>, apparently from the smoothness of its flowers: in the year 1786, Mr. Alexander Anderson sent this plant to the Royal Garden at Kew, from the West-Indies, where it grows spontaneously, as well as at Surinam; and Mr. Aiton has inserted it at the end of the <em>Hort. Kew.</em> assigning to it a new specific description, and a new trivial name: our drawing was made from a plant which flowered in the stove of Messrs. Grimwood and Co. Kensington, to whom it was imparted by Richard Molesworth, Esq. of Peckham, a gentleman liberal in his communications, and anxious to promote the cause of Botany.</p>

<p>This species of Lobelia is a stove plant, having a some-*what shrubby stalk, growing to the height of several feet; its blossoms are very large, of a pale red colour, and its Anther&aelig;, which might be mistaken for the stigma, unusually hairy.</p>

<p>It begins to flower in January and February, and continues to blossom during most of the summer.</p>

<p>Is increased by cuttings.</p>