Flower ID: IMG_8554.JPG-08-16-2023 Flower name (scientific): Lobelia cardinalis Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) low-BEE-lee-ah kar-dih-NAL-iss Flower name (common): Cardinal Flower Family name (common): Bellflower Family name (scientific): Campanulaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named in honor of Mathias de l'Obel (also written as Mathias de Lobel or Matthaeus Lobelius) (1538–1616), who was a Flemish physician and botanist. Specific epithet: Deep scarlet, brilliant red, the color of the garment worn by a Roman Catholic cardinal. Common name origin: The brilliant red color of the flowers matches the color of the robes worn by a cardinal. Flower description: Size: 1.0 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: bright red Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 12 to 60 inches (30 to 152 cm) Stem hairy: usually glabrous Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple. Upper leaves mostly sessile, lower leaves near the base have short petioles up to about 2 cm in length. Margins shallowly toothed. Size: Leaves up to 15 cm long and 4 cm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely pubescent with short hairs. Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate (IL), lanceolate to oblanceolate (MP) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Streambanks, swamps, wet prairies, borders of ponds, sun or semi-shade, moist to wet. Fruit: capsules up to about 1 cm in length. Seed: up to about 1 mm in length, light brown, surface with pits and ridges. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. The distinctive red color of the petals is a major aid to ID this plant. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the roots of this species as a love medicine, and the ground entire plant to dispel storms (Smith, p. 231, 1928). Latitude: 44.799453 Longitude: -91.513490 Altitude: 243.70 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NB, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 4 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 72 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): OBL Wetland Status (MW): OBL