Lobelia brevifolia Nutt. ex A. DC.

Shortleaf Lobelia

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Shortleaf Lobelia is an herbaceous perennial in the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae). It is native to the southern third of Alabama. Shortleaf Lobelia occurs in seeps, bogs, pine flatwoods, savannas, and wet roadside ditches. Shortleaf Lobelia is perennial from a knot-like taproot. Stems are single or multiple from a tap root, pubescent, erect, unbranched, and from 6 inches to 3 feet in length. The stems have a milky sap when broken, are angled in cross section, and yellowish-green in color. Leaves are alternate, 1-2 inches in length, ¼ inches in width, with sharply toothed margins. The leaves a numerous and reduced in size up the stem. Both the stems and leaves may take on a purple color in strong light. Flowers are produced in terminal racemes. Flowers are subtended by small leaf-like bracts. The calyx is toothed and has distinct auricles that overlap and cover the calyx tube. The corolla is zygomorphic, and two-lipped. The upper lip is two lobed and the lower lip is three lobed. The flower color ranges from very pale lavender through blue to nearly purple. The fruit is a capsule containing many small seed.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC+ (NWPL)

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