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Glite Dictionary
Lobelia cardinalis

Lobelia cardinalis

8.1
A tall plant from North America that grows in wet places with bright red flowers that attract hummingbirds
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lobelia cardinalis
  • Many hummingbirds are attracted to the brilliant flowers of Lobelia cardinalis.

Examples

  • The vibrant Lobelia cardinalis added a splash of red to the garden's border.

  • The Lobelia cardinalis blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Botanists often study Lobelia cardinalis for its unique wetland habitat preferences.

  • I saw a vibrant Lobelia cardinalis in the garden.

  • Many hummingbirds are attracted to the brilliant flowers of Lobelia cardinalis.

  • The vibrant Lobelia cardinalis added a splash of red to the garden's border.

  • The Lobelia cardinalis blooms beautifully in the summer.

Synonyms

cardinal flower
vsLobelia cardinalis
  • US
7.1

A tall North American plant with bright red flowers that grows in wet places

is the scientific species name for that same plant

Surface Forms

Lobelia cardinalis singular
Lobelia cardinalises plural

Morphology

lobelia + cardinalis

This is a botanical binomial combining the genus name 'Lobelia' (a plant) with the Latin species epithet 'cardinalis' (literally relating to 'cardinal', i.e. red). If a learner recognizes the 'cardinal' root they can infer 'the red/cardinal-coloured lobelia', but because 'cardinalis' is Latin and not an everyday English word, the connection is not reliably predictable for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Lobelia cardinalis is named for the plant group Lobelia, after a botanist named L'Obel, and for the species word cardinalis, which points to the deep red color of a 'cardinal' church leader's robes. So the name helps you remember it is the bright red 'cardinal' flower.