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Lobelia dortmanna - (image 1 of 4)

Taxonomy

Family: Lobeliaceae

Habitat

In shallow water or shores of ponds and lakes, usually in sand.

Associates

Distribution

Newfoundland to NJ, west to MN; also along the Pacific coast and in Europe.

Morphology

Herbaceous aquatic perennial; plants glabrous; stem upright, hollow, to 1 m, usually partly submersed; leaves in a basal rosette, linear, fleshy, hollow, 2-9 cm, outcurved near the tip; cauline leaves minute, filiform; raceme emersed (sometimes submersed), few flowered; bracts ovate, 2-3 mm; bracteoles none; sepals 2 mm; corolla pale blue or white, 1-2 cm, the lower lip bearded at the base within.

Notes

Flowers July to September

Wetland indicator: OBL

The rosette of leaves shown in the last image was growing just above the water line on a hummock on the shore of a large lake where frequent wave action would allow them to stay constantly wet. The reddish color of the leaves is likely due to exposure to the sun; completely submersed plants are usually yellowish green or brownish green.  

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY.

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