PLANTS f'URNlSHING MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HERBS. 



35 



LOBELIA. 



Lobelia inflata L. 



Pharmacopmal name. — Lobelia. 



Other common names. — Indian tobacco, wild tobacco, asthma weed, gagroot, void it- 

 wort, puke weed, emetic herb, bladder pod, low belia, eyebright. 



Habitat and range. ^l.ohoViA may bo found in sunny situations in open woodlands, 

 old fields and pastures, 

 and along roadsides nearly 

 everywhere in the United 

 States, but especially east 

 of the Mississippi River. 



Description. — -This pois- 

 onous plant, an annual 

 belonging to the bellflower 

 family (Gampanulacece), 

 contains an acrid, milky 

 juice. Its simple stem has 

 but few short branches and 

 is smooth above, while the 

 lower part is rough hairy. 



The leaves are placed 

 alternately along the stem, 

 those on the upper portion 

 small and stemless and the 

 lower leaves larger and 

 borne on stalks. They are 

 pale green and thin in 

 texture, from 1 to about 2 

 inches in length, oblong 

 or oval, blunt at the apex, 

 the margins irregularly saw 

 toothed, and both upper 

 and lower surfaces fur- 

 nished with short hairs. 



Lobelia may be found 

 in flower from summer 

 until frost, but its pale- 

 blue flowers, while very 



Fig. 27. 



-Lobelia (Lobdia inflata). li'avcs, 

 capsules. 



flowers, and inflated 



numerous, are very small and inconspicuous. They are borne on very short stems 

 in the axils of the upper leaves. The lower lip of each flower has three lobes and 

 the upper one two segments, from the center of which the tube is cleft to the base. 

 The inflated capsules are nearly round, marked wdth parallel grooves, and contain 

 very numerous extremely minute dark-brown seeds. (Fig. 27.) 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The Pharmacopoeia directs that the leaves and tops be 

 collected after some of the capsules have become inflated. Not too much of the 

 stemmy portion should be included. The leaves and tops should be dried in the 

 Bhade and when dry kept in covered receptacles. The price paid for the dried leaves 

 and tops is about 3 cents a pound. 



Lobelia has expectorant properties, acts upon the nervous system and bowels, 

 causes vomiting, and is poisonous. 



The seed of lobelia is also employed in medicine. 

 219 



