Heath Lobelia - Lobelia urens



Scientific Name: Lobelia urens (Campanulaceae).

English Name: Heath Lobelia (Bellflower family).

French Name: Cardinale des marais (='marsh cardinal') or Lobélie brulante (='flaming lobelia').

5 Key Characters:
  • erect plant 20 - 60 cm tall.
  • basal leaves a pointed oval shape with virtually no stalk.
  • a spike of blue flowers on stalks shorter than 1 cm.
  • flowers purpley blue with 2 lobes on the upper lip and 3 on the lower.
  • lobes less than 2 mm across.
Lookalikes: None.

Habitat: Grassy heaths, open heathy or damp woods on flinty ground.

Flowering Period: June-July-August-September.

Status: Locally common. Restricted to western France, not going much further east than Paris.

Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:

All photos will enlarge in a new window if clicked on. Row 1 left & centre on the banks of the Etang de Ribaloche in the Foret de Preuilly, June; right on a ride (forest track) in the Parc de Boussay, June.


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