Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis ‘Black Truffle’)
Family: Bellflower family (Campanulaceae)
– Type: Herbaceous perennial
– Native Range: Americas
– Sun: Full sun to part shade
– Location: Burlington, NC
– Latitude: 36° 5′ 49.038″ N, Longitude: 79° 28′ 12″ W
– Forage: Nectar and pollen
– NOTES:
Individual flowers display a characteristic “lip” petal near the opening of the flower and the “milky” liquid the plant excretes. Flowers are pollinated primarily by hummingbirds and butterflies, but nectar is stolen through slits made by bumblebees at the base of tubular corolla of each flower during foraging, thus giving access to nectar foraging honey bees.