Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Campanulaceae - Brook Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)

Brook Lobelia

(Lobelia kalmii)

Eggers, Steve D. and Donald M. Reed. 1997. Wetland plants and communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

Lobelia nuttallii

Nuttall's Lobelia is usually found on sandy soil. In contrast Brook Lobelia is an inhabitant of wet habitats. The flowering stalks of Nuttall's Lobelia are shorter than the flower. The flowering stalks (pedicels) of Brook Lobelia are usually longer than the flower.

Brook Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)

Identification: Flowers typical of the lobelias with 5 petals fused into a basal tube. Three lower petal lobes projecting downward. Upper 2 petals curled upward. Flowers small, blue, with a white center. Flowers arising along stem from the leaf axils. Flowering stalks (pedicels) usually longer than the flower. Upper leaves elongate, grasslike, with smooth outer margins. Lower leaves elongate-spatulate. Plant 8 to 30 inches in height.

Distribution: Southern Canada, southward to Iowa and Illinois in the west and northern New Jersey in the east. Also occurs in the northern United States to Washington.

Habitat: Brook Lobelia is a species of wet habitats such as lake shores, wet meadows, and bogs.

Flowering period: July to September.

Brook Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)

Similar Species:

Nuttall's Lobelia (Lobelia nuttallii)

Similar Species