Lobelia spicata

This small-flowered lobelia has striking white to pale blue flowers that are borne on an unbranched stem (12-36 inches). The alternate leaves are ovate to spatulate, narrower at the base than at the tip. They tend to occur on the lower part of the stem, and some may form a loose basal rosette– as seen in the photo to the right. The leaf margins can be slightly toothed to entire.

Also commonly known as Spiked Lobelia, this plant is considered poisonous. However,  a tea made from the leaves was once used medicinally by Native Americans for treating a variety of ailments.

All the flowers in the gallery below were taken along the side of the trail at Pandapas Pond in Montgomery County, VA.

Pearly gray hairstreak on lobelia