Lobelia siphilitica.Thomas G. Barnes @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.Barnes, T.G., and S.W. Francis. 2004. Wildflowers and ferns of Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky. (Accessed 4/2014).

Lobelia siphilitica is a perennial herb by basal offshoots, 0.5-1.5 m. tall (usually shorter), stout, erect, mostly unbranched, sap milky (Radford et al. 1968). 

Leaves alternate, stalkless, blade 5-12 cm long, 1-6 cm wide, elliptic, pointed at both ends, hairy above, margin irregularly toothed, upper leaves merging into floral bracts. 

Flowers blue, to 3 cm long, bilaterally symmetrical, tubular, corolla two lipped, lower lip 3-lobed, upper lip 2-lobed; inflorescence a raceme in upper axils; blooms and fruits Aug.-Sept.

Fruit a dry capsule opening near top. 

Wetland status: FACW+. 

Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent. 

Origin: Native. 

Habitat: Open marshes or swamp forests.