Juice often milky; sepals 5; corolla 1-2-lipped, united; stamens 5,
anthers joined into a tube.
Prairie Lobelia (_Lobelia brachypoda_) grows on sandy prairies in
Southern Texas and the adjacent part of Mexico. It is very abundant west
of Falfurrias in March. The Texas lobelias may usually be recognized by
the five united stamens which have gray anthers bearded at the top. The
plants often have a milky sap containing a poisonous alkaloid which is
used in medicine. The red cardinal flower (_Lobelia splendens_) is
rather widely scattered in moist places throughout the state but is rare
enough to need protection.