Lobelia erinus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Campanulids
Ordo: Asterales

Familia: Campanulaceae
Subfamilia: Lobelioideae
Genus: Lobelia
Species: Lobelia erinus
Name

Lobelia erinus L., 1753
Synonyms

Homotypic
Rapuntium erinus (L.) Mill., Gard. Dict. ed. 8: n.º 8 (1768).
Dortmanna erinus (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 972 (1891).
Heterotypic
Lobelia erinoides L., Sp. Pl.: 932 (1753).
Rapuntium erinoides (L.) Mill., Gard. Dict. ed. 8: n.º 9 (1768).
Lobelia bellidifolia L.f., Suppl. Pl.: 396 (1782).
Lobelia erinifolia Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 129 (1796), nom. superfl.
Lobelia bicolor Sims, Bot. Mag. 15: t. 514 (1801).
Monopsis conspicua Salisb., Trans. Hort. Soc. London 2: 37 (1817), nom. superfl.
Lobelia candida Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 219 (1821), not validly publ.
Lobelia schrankii Sweet, Hort. Brit., ed. 2: 323 (1830).
Lobelia procumbens J.Forbes, Hort. Woburn.: 33 (1833).
Enchysia erinoides (L.) C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 40 (1836).
Rapuntium acutangulum C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 16 (1836).
Rapuntium bellidifolium (L.f.) C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 15 (1836).
Rapuntium bicolor (Sims) C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 17 (1836).
Rapuntium flexuosum C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 16 (1836), nom. illeg.
Rapuntium kohautianum C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 15 (1836).
Rapuntium krebsianum C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 15 (1836).
Rapuntium procumbens (J.Forbes) C.Presl, Prodr. Monogr. Lobel.: 17 (1836).
Lobelia parvifolia Raf., New Fl. 2: 18 (1837), nom. illeg.
Lobelia acutangula (C.Presl) A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 369 (1839).
Lobelia algoensis A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 369 (1839).
Lobelia bracteolata A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 371 (1839).
Lobelia natalensis A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 369 (1839).
Lobelia senegalensis A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 372 (1839).
Lobelia erinus var. grandiflora Paxton, Paxton's Mag. Bot. 10: 75 (1843).
Lobelia lavendulacea Klotzsch in W.C.H.Peters, Naturw. Reise Mossambique 6(1): 302 (1861).
Lobelia gordonii T.Moore, Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 4: 195 (1864).
Lobelia paxtoniana T.Moore, Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 4: 195 (1864).
Grammatotheca erinoides (L.) Sond. in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 3: 532 (1865).
Lobelia erinus var. bellidifolia (L.f.) Sond. in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 3: 544 (1865).
Lobelia natalensis var. subulifolia Sond. in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 3: 545 (1865).
Monopsis debilis var. conspicua Sond. in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 3: 534 (1865).
Lobelia kohautiana Vatke, Linnaea 38: 719 (1874), nom. superfl.
Lobelia nuda Hemsl. in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 469 (1877).
Laurentia erinoides (L.) G.Nicholson, Ill. Dict. Gard. 2: 238 (1885).
Lobelia pubescens var. simplex Kuntze, Jahrb. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 4: 267 (1886).
Dortmanna erinoides (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 972 (1891).
Dortmanna flexuosa Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 972 (1891).
Dortmanna lavandulacea (Klotzsch) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 972 (1891).
Dortmanna senegalensis (A.DC.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 973 (1891).
Lobelia dortmannii Dammann, Wiener Ill. Gart.-Zeitung 19: 459 (1894).
Dortmanna debilis var. natalensis Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 187 (1898).
Dortmanna erinus var. bellidifolia (L.f.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 187 (1898).
Lobelia benguellensis Hiern, Cat. Afr. Pl. 1: 626 (1898).
Lobelia chilawana Schinz, Mém. Herb. Boissier 10: 70 (1900).
Lobelia erinus var. gracilis L.H.Bailey, Cycl. Amer. Hort.: 935 (1900).
Lobelia erinus f. bicolor (Sims) Zahlbr., Ann. K. K. Naturhist. Hofmus. 18: 405 (1903).
Lobelia rosulata S.Moore, J. Bot. 41: 402 (1903).
Lobelia jugosa S.Moore, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 40: 125 (1911).
Lobelia transvaalensis Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 57: 622 (1922).
Lobelia trierarchii R.D.Good, J. Bot. 62: 139 (1924).
Lobelia turgida E.Wimm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 38: 82 (1935).
Lobelia rosulata f. hirtella E.Wimm., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 15: 634 (1941).
Lobelia turgida var. peteri E.Wimm., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 15: 634 (1941).
Lobelia erinus var. bracteolata (A.DC.) E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 350 (1948).
Lobelia erinus f. elata E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 350 (1948).
Lobelia erinus var. schrankii (Sweet) E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 351 (1948).
Lobelia erinus var. subvillosa E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 350 (1948).
Lobelia filiformis f. albiflora E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 355 (1948).
Lobelia filiformis f. multipilis E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 355 (1948).
Lobelia filiformis f. muzandazora E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 355 (1948).
Lobelia filiformis var. natalensis (A.DC.) E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 354 (1948).
Lobelia lydenburgensis E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 342 (1948).
Lobelia montaguensis E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 357 (1948).
Lobelia nuda f. hirtella E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 343 (1948).
Monopsis simplex var. conspicua (Sond.) E.Wimm., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 56: 370 (1948).
Lobelia altimontis E.Wimm., Kew Bull. 7: 138 (1952).
Lobelia nuda var. rosulata (S.Moore) E.Wimm., Kew Bull. 7: 138 (1952).
Lobelia polyodon E.Wimm., Kew Bull. 7: 140 (1952).
Lobelia wildii E.Wimm., Kew Bull. 7: 141 (1952).
Lobelia wildii var. arcana E.Wimm., Kew Bull. 7: 141 (1952).
Lobelia keilhackii E.Wimm. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 276b: 543 (1953).
Lobelia nuzana E.Wimm. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 276b: 780 (1953).
Lobelia raridentata E.Wimm. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 276b: 518 (1953).
Lobelia senegalensis var. turgida (E.Wimm.) E.Wimm. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 276b: 552 (1953).
Lobelia melsetteria E.Wimm. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 276c: 866 (1968), not validly publ.
Lobelia oranjensis E.Wimm. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 276c: 864 (1968).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Africa
Angola; Azores; Botswana; Canary Is.; Cape Provinces; Caprivi Strip; Chad; Ethiopia; Free State; KwaZulu-Natal; Lesotho; Madeira; Malawi; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Northern Provinces; Senegal; Somalia; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania; Tristan da Cunha; Zambia; Zaire; Zimbabwe

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 932. Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Lobelia erinus in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Aug. 03. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Lobelia erinus. Published online. Accessed: Aug. 03 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Lobelia erinus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 03 Aug. 2019.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Lobelia erinus in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Wilde lobelia
suomi: Sinilobelia
français: Lobélie érine

Lobelia erinus (edging lobelia, garden lobelia or trailing lobelia) is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae, native to southern Africa.[2]

Description

It is a low growing, prostrate or scrambling herbaceous perennial plant growing to 8–15 cm tall. The basal leaves are oval, 10 mm long and 4–8 mm broad, with a toothed margin; leaves higher on the stems are slender and sometimes untoothed.

The flowers are blue to violet in wild plants, with a five-lobed corolla 8–20 mm across; they are produced in loose panicles. About 0.5 to 4.5 inches long inflorescence stems are about 5 inches long, loose racemose inflorescences with many flowers. The hermaphrodite flower is zygomorphic with a length of up to 1 centimeter and quinate with double perianth. The five sepals are fused. The fan-shaped lower lip is trilobed. The color of the crown varies depending on the variety between white, blue, purple, purple, pink or red the center is yellow or white. The five stamens are 3 to 7 millimeters long.[3]

The fruit is a 5–8 mm capsule containing numerous small seeds.[4][5]
Range

The distribution area lies in southern Africa and extends from Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe to the south to Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and the South African provinces.
Cultivation and uses

Lobelia erinus is a very popular edging plant in gardens, especially for hanging baskets and window boxes. In temperate zones it is grown as a half-hardy annual, i.e. sown under glass with some heat in spring, then planted out when all danger of frost has passed. Alternatively plants can be purchased from garden centres as young "plug" plants, to be transferred outside in May or June.[6]
Cultivars

Numerous cultivars have been selected, either with a bushy or a trailing habit, in a wide range of flower colours, including white, pink, magenta ("red"), pale to dark blue, and purple, often with a prominent white eye. Some of the better known cultivars include 'Blue Moon', 'Gracilis', 'Crystal Palace',[7] 'Sapphire', 'Rosamund' and 'Riviera Rose'.[4]

In the United Kingdom the following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:[8]

'Cambridge Blue'[9]
Cascade Series[10]
'Colour Cascade'[11]
'Crystal Palace'[12]
'Mrs Clibran'[13]
Purple Star=‘Westpurstar’[14]
'Regatta Midnight Blue'[15]
'Regatta Sky Blue'[16]
'Richardii' syn. Lobelia richardsonii[17]
'Riviera Blue Eyes'[18]
'String of Pearls'[19]
Techno Heat Trailing Light Blue Improved=‘Lobstrahob’[20]
Waterfall Blue=‘Balobwablu’ (Waterfall Series)[21]

Gallery

'Cambridge Blue'
Illustration
'Riviera Rose'
'Sapphire'

References

"The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". www.theplantlist.org.
"Lobelia erinus". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
Erich Oberdorfer : Plant sociology excursion flora for Germany and adjacent areas . In collaboration with Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and supplemented edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , p 899.
Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
PlantZAfrica: Lobelia
RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
Plant of the week: Lobelia erinus 'Crystal Palace'
"AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 61. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Cambridge Blue'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus Cascade Series". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Colour Cascade'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Crystal Palace'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Mrs Clibran'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Purple Star'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Regatta Midnight Blue'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Regatta Sky Blue'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia richardsonii". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'Riviera Blue Eyes". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus 'String of Pearls'". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus Techno Heat Trailing Light Blue Improved = 'Lobstrahob' (PBR) (Techno Heat Series)". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
"RHS Plantfinder - Lobelia erinus Waterfall Blue = 'Balobwablu' (PBR) (Waterfall Series)". www.rhs.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.