which are narrowly lanceolate, tapering to a slender point,
fringed and toothed with distant long sharp teeth. Corolla
tubular, of a violet purple, aboutan inch and a half in length,
the upper side split longitudinally to the b a se : the two
segments of the upper lip linear, villous on the outside,
bearded at the point: lower ones acute, hairy, spreading.
Stamens 5, monadelphous: Jilaments united into a tube, hairy
at the base, and producing a row of long reflexed hairs down
the back : bearded at the point. % fe smooth. Stigma
two-lobed, bearded underneath with stiff hairs.
For this most beautiful species of Lobelia, we are also
indebted to the rich collection of the late Robert Barclay,
Esq. of Bury-hill, where it was raised from seed, received
from Chile in 1829; it flowered, for the first time, in his
collection, in the Autumn of 1830; but not sufficiently fine
to procure a figure from; but last Autumn it produced the
fine specimen from which our drawing was made ; there is
already a good uncoloured figure of it in Cavanille’s Icones:
it having flowered many years since in the then famous Botanic
Garden at Madrid. In Mr. Barclay’s garden it was
planted by the side of a wall, in a southern aspect, where
we saw it still in fine bloom the beginning of last October,
growing freely in the rich light soil of the garden.
In examining the specimen we found it to be of a deleterious
quality; although none of the milky juice came about
our hands, we found, by putting a finger to the tongue, it
caused a very acrid taste; and by unthinkingly rubbing the
eye, caused a very smarting pain; this was repeated some
time afterwards to try the effect, which still continued till
the hands were washed ; the plant must therefore be grown
in a situation where children or strangers may not accidentally
get at it. Cuttings of it will doubtless root readily in a
little heat, like the other species of this tribe ; but it would
be best to dry them a day or two before planting, to close
the wound, otherwise they would be liable to rot, or damp off.
The genus was named in honour of M. Lobel, author of
several works; the particular one, Icones Plantarum; he
was Physician and Botanist to James the First, and died in
London, in 1616.
1. Calyx, M'ith the 2 bractes near the base of the footstalks. 2. Corolla spread open,
showing the longitudinal divisions of the upper lip, and the 3-cleft lower segment. 3. The
5 connected Stamens, with the 2 anthers bearded at the points. 4. The pyramidal Ovarium,
terminated by the smooth Style, and 2-lobed bearded Stigma.