Lobelia cardinalis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several regions of North America. In Eastern Canada, its presence is documented in the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario, and Québec. Moving into the United States, it can be found in the North-Central region, specifically within Illinois. Its distribution also extends to the Northwestern U.S.A., where it is located in Colorado. Together, these locations highlight the varied habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lobelia cardinalis is defined by its presence within forest habitats, where it thrives across a vast altitudinal gradient. This species exhibits remarkable adaptability to varying vertical landscapes, with an elevational range spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. While its distribution covers these low to mid-elevation reaches, the ecological profile of the plant is characterized by a mean elevation of 2600 m AMSL, indicating its prevalence in higher montane or cloud forest environments.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Lobelia cardinalis is characterized by its classification as a perennial, meaning it undergoes multiple growth cycles over several years. In terms of its structural strategy and survival mechanism, the plant is categorized as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. This growth habit allows the species to persist through seasonal changes by utilizing these protected buds to regenerate each growing season.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lobelia cardinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This species is a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing tendencies such as liana or vine structures, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. In terms of habitat and life strategy, it is a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one. The plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 1.8 m, maintaining a sturdy, upright structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.8 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lobelia cardinalis is characterized by its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the first stage of the Calvin cycle. As a C3 plant, it performs gas exchange primarily through its stomata, which regulate the balance between CO2 uptake for photosynthesis and the prevention of excessive transpiration. This metabolic strategy is highly efficient in the temperate, moist, and shaded environments where the species typically thrives, as the absence of specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms like those found in C4 or CAM plants allows it to allocate energy toward rapid vegetative growth and reproductive development under moderate light intensities. The plant's physiological processes are closely tied to its high water requirement, necessitating robust hydraulic conductance to maintain turgor pressure and facilitate the transport of nutrients through its vascular system.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lobelia cardinalis is characterized by a versatile flowering period that can vary significantly depending on environmental conditions, typically beginning around December and concluding in October, though the presence of blooms can span most months of the year. The plant produces specialized seeds that are notably minute in size, exhibiting a mean seed mass of approximately 4.0585e-05 g. These seeds show a narrow range of weight variation, with a recorded minimum mass of 4e-05 g and a maximum mass of 4.2e-05 g, ensuring a high volume of dispersal potential through their lightweight structure.

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Oct

Seed mass max:

4.2e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

4.0585e-05 g

Seed mass min:

4e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lobelia cardinalis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Applied biosciences

Preparations

Lobelia cardinalis has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hairy root cultures.

Hairy root cultures

1. Applied biosciences