Kingdom Plantae Family Campanulaceae Genus Lobelia Higher classification Lobelias | Order Asterales Subfamily Lobelioideae Scientific name Lobelia kalmii Rank Species | |
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Similar Lobelias, Campanulaceae, Lobelia niihauensis, Lobelia aberdarica, Parnassia glauca | ||
Lobelia kalmii is a species of flowering plant with a distribution primarily across Canada and the northern United States in temperate and boreal regions. It was formerly known as Lobelia strictiflora (Rydb.) Lunell and has a variety of English names including Kalm's lobelia, Ontario lobelia and Brook lobelia.
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Growth
Lobelia kalmii is a small plant (10 – 40 cm) of wet environments such as bogs, wet meadows, and rocky shorelines, including wet alvars, where it grows in calcareous soil or cracks between limestone rocks.
It has blue flowers, with a white center. It has thin upper leaves and spatulate basal leaves. It starts flowering in July, lasting into September.
Cultivation and uses
Although other species of Lobelia are cultivated for ornamental purposes, the small (1 cm) flowers of Lobelia kalmii have not endeared this plant to growers. It can be found though on seed exchanges among native plant enthusiasts. Its hardy nature may allow it to produce masses of scattered plants within downspout rock gardens.
Traditional use
Native Americans used Lobelia to treat respiratory and muscle disorders, and as a purgative. The species used most commonly in modern herbalism is Lobelia inflata (Indian Tobacco).
