loʊbˈiːliə kˌɑːɹdɪnˈɑːliz ɪz ɹᵻlˈeɪɾᵻd tə tˈuː ˈʌðɚ loʊbˈiːliə spˈiːsiːz ɪn tə ðɪ ˈiːstɚn juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts, loʊbˈiːliə ɪnflˈɑːɾə ˈɪndiən təbˈækoʊ ænd loʊbˈiːliə sˌaɪfɪlˈɪɾɪkə ɡɹˈeɪt loʊbˈiːliə; ˈɔːl dɪsplˈeɪ ðə kˌæɹɪktɚɹˈɪstɪk "lˈɪp" pˈɛɾəl nˌɪɹ ðɪ ˈoʊpənɪŋ ʌvðə flˈaʊɚ ænd ðə "mˈɪlki" lˈɪkwɪd ðə plˈænt ɛkskɹˈiːts.
Lobelia cardinalis is related to two other Lobelia species in to the Eastern United States, Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) and Lobelia siphilitica (great lobelia); all display the characteristic "lip" petal near the opening of the flower and the "milky" liquid the plant excretes.