Harman Patil (Editor)

Lobelia laxiflora

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Kingdom
  
Family
  
Genus
  
Order
  
Subfamily
  
Lobelioideae

Rank
  
Species

Lobelia laxiflora lobelia laxiflora Garden Coach Photos

Similar
  
Lobelia tupa, Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia urens, Lobelia niihauensis, Lobelia siphilitica

Lobelia laxiflora is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. It is native to the Americas, where it is distributed in South, Central, and North America as far north as Arizona in the United States. It is known by several English-language common names, including Mexican lobelia, Sierra Madre lobelia, Mexican cardinalflower, looseflowers lobelia, and drooping lobelia. In Spanish and Nahuatl it is known as aretitos, acaxóchitl, and chilpanxóchitl.

Lobelia laxiflora Lobelia laxiflora Planting growing and propagating information

In general, this is a perennial herb, subshrub, or shrub usually growing up to about 1.5 meters in maximum height, but known to reach 3 meters. The leaves vary in shape, size, and texture. The inflorescence is a raceme up to 40 centimeters long bearing leaflike bracts and several flowers. The flower may be over 6 centimeters long including its tubular base and corolla with narrow, spreading lobes. It is usually red, sometimes yellowish. The anthers protrude from the corolla. The plant produces seeds and also spreads via underground runners.

Lobelia laxiflora wwwsmgrowerscomimagedbLobelialaxiflorajpg

In Mexico this plant grows in pine-oak forest habitat. In Arizona it has been noted in riparian woodland.

The hummingbird flower mite (Tropicoseius chiriquensis) lives in the flowers of this plant, feeding on the nectar and pollen and laying eggs. Each flower blooms for about a week, enough time for the mite to complete its life cycle.

Lobelia laxiflora Lobelia laxiflora Lobelia mexicana Mexican Cardinal Flower

Like other lobelias, this species contains medicinally useful alkaloids. Several new compounds have been discovered during chemical analyses of this plant.

Lobelia laxiflora Lobelia laxiflora Lobelia mexicana Mexican Cardinal Flower

References

Lobelia laxiflora Wikipedia


Similar Topics