Lobelia spicata
 
Spiked Lobelia

Stamen Tube and Pistil

Highway #10 and East Saltcoats Grid
15-July-2006

This flower has been dissected.  The anther tube is formed from the union of three larger anthers and two somewhat smaller anthers.  Note the pubescence on the back of the larger anthers.  Note also the tuft of hairs at the tip of the two smaller anthers.  Finally, note the ring of hairs below the apex of the stigma.

Note that some taxonomists place the Lobelia genus in the Campanulaceae family.

 
bullet

Spicata:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.  
bullet

plants terrestrial; NOT [plants aquatic, with leaves all submerged]

bullet

plants of drier soils; NOT [plants of moist marshy places]

bullet

stems leafy; NOT [leaves all basal]

bullet

stem leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate to ovate, usually more than 10 mm wide; NOT [stem leaves linear, less than 10 mm wide]

bullet

flowers in a spike-like raceme; NOT [flowers in a loose raceme, on lax pedicels]

bullet

racemes many-flowered; NOT [racemes few-flowered]

 

bullet

Lobelia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
bullet

perennials; NOT annuals

bullet

corolla-tube split to near the base on the upper side

bullet

capsule 2-celled; NOT 1-celled

 
bullet

Lobeliaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. 
bullet

herbs

bullet

plants green or with some chlorophyll; NOT [plants parasitic or saprophytic, without chlorophyll]

bullet

plants often with milky juice; NOT [plants without milky juice]

bullet

NOT climbing plants with tendrils

bullet

leaves basal or alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

bullet

flowers NOT in heads, NOT in spikes

bullet

flowers with two floral rings, but with the petals wholly or partly united forming a tube or bell

bullet

corolla irregular, split down one side; NOT [corolla regular, bell-shaped]

bullet

anthers united into a tube; NOT [anthers free]

bullet

ovary inferior; NOT superior