Names and Myths

Lobelia Of Lobel (a Flemish botanist Matthias de Lobel 1538-1616)

 inflata inflated.

Tobacco scent cause of common name, the Indians did not smoke it.⁶

Natural history / Folklore

All parts of the plant contain a milky toxic juice, leaves, stems, and fruit often the cause of a dermatitis.²¹ Contains lobeline and other pyridine alkaloids; Lobeline is similar in structure to nicotine. Small doses cause burning in the throat and nausea, larger doses effect heart rate, induce vomiting and may lead to a coma or death.¹⁹ This acrid taste protects it from grazing animals.⁶

New England Quakers exported it dried to England for the treatment of asthma and convulsions, and it was listed in the American Codex between 1820 and 1960.⁵⁶

Description

June – August pale blue to white. Seedpods are inflated. woods and fields