Flower ID: IMG_4371.JPG-09-04-2022 Flower name (scientific): Lobelia siphilitica Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) low-BEE-lee-ah sigh-fy-LY-tih-kuh Flower name (common): Great Blue Lobelia 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: The plant was once used to treat the disease syphilis. Common name origin: From the size of the plant and the color of the flowers. Flower description: Size: 0.7 to 1.0 inches (1.8 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: blue or bluish purple Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 12 to 48 inches (30 to 120 cm) Stem hairy: sparsely pubescent or glabrous. Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple, mostly sessile, margin finely and irregularly toothed. Size: Leaves up to 15 cm long and 5 cm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Other: Shape: leaf, oblanceolate, obovate, ovate, or broadly elliptic (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): August to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Streambanks, swamps, moist meadows, sun or semi-shade, moist to wet. Fruit: capsules about 5 to 9 mm in length Seed: light brown, about 0.6 to 0.8 mm in length, with pits and ridges on the surface. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Lobelia puberula is similar, but this species has not been recorded from Wisconsin. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the roots of this species as a love medicine, as an aid to prevent divorce (Smith, p. 231-232, 1928). Latitude: 44.799348 Longitude: -91.513537 Altitude: 238.20 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, ON) 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 20 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACW Wetland Status (MW): OBL