Lobelia gattingeri

Lobelia gattingeri, commonly known as Gattinger's Lobelia, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the bellflower family (Campanulaceae). It is native to the southeastern United States, primarily found in the Ozark Mountains and parts of the Gulf Coastal Plain. The species is named in honor of Augustin Gattinger (1825–1903), a German-American physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of Tennessee's flora.

Description

Lobelia gattingeri is a slender, erect annual herb typically growing 10 to 60 centimeters (4 to 24 inches) tall. Its stems are often branched, usually from the base, and are generally glabrous (smooth) or sparsely hairy.

• Leaves: The leaves are alternate, linear to spatulate (spoon-shaped), and typically sessile (without a petiole) or very short-petioled. They measure about 1 to 5 cm (0.4 to 2 inches) long and 2 to 8 mm (0.08 to 0.3 inches) wide, with margins that are entire (smooth) or sparsely toothed.
• Flowers: The small, tubular flowers are bright blue to purplish-blue and arranged in loose, terminal racemes. Like other Lobelia species, the corolla is two-lipped; the upper lip has two small lobes, and the lower lip has three broader lobes. The stamens are fused into a column around the pistil. Blooming occurs from summer into early fall, typically from July to October.
• Fruit: The fruit is a small, dehiscent capsule containing numerous tiny seeds.

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Clade: Tracheophytes
• Clade: Angiosperms
• Clade: Eudicots
• Clade: Asterids
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Campanulaceae (Bellflower family)
• Genus: Lobelia
• Species: Lobelia gattingeri

Habitat and Distribution

Gattinger's Lobelia is endemic to the southeastern United States. Its primary range includes states such as Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.

It typically thrives in open, sunny to partially shaded habitats, often found in:

• Limestone glades
• Prairies
• Open woodlands
• Rocky slopes
• Roadsides and disturbed areas

The plant prefers well-drained, calcareous (lime-rich) soils, often growing in shallow soil over bedrock.

Conservation Status

While not globally listed as endangered, Lobelia gattingeri is considered rare or imperiled in parts of its range at the state level. It is often listed as "Threatened," "Endangered," or "Vulnerable" in specific states due to its restricted habitat requirements and susceptibility to habitat loss and degradation. Conservation efforts often focus on protecting its unique glade and prairie habitats.

Etymology

The specific epithet gattingeri honors Dr. Augustin Gattinger, a pioneer in the botanical exploration of Tennessee. Gattinger's comprehensive work, "The Flora of Tennessee and a Philosophy of Botany" (1901), was instrumental in documenting the plant diversity of the region.