Water Lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna)

Plant Family: Bellflowers Campanulaceae

Wetland Indicator Status: OBL

Water lobelia
Water Lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna) and Pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum) on a lakebed exposed after many dry years.

Water Lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna) is a small plant typically found in very shallow water of acidic lakes where it produces small, attractive white, or light blue flowers just above the water surface.  The accompanying photos were taken after several years of drought had left many aquatic plants without standing water.  Many aquatic plants only produce flowers during time of drought, or do so with more abundance.

Water lobelia flower petals
Closeup of the small flowers of Water Lobelia Lobelia dortmanna