752 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



About 600 species of wide distribution, comparatively few in northern 

 United States. Some of the tropical species shrubby. Several species are 

 medicinal, among them Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata). The Lobelia erinus 

 of the Cape of Good Hope is frequently cultivated in the conservatories and 

 in gardens. It has small azure blue flowers. It has escaped on the Pacific 

 Coast. 



Lobelia (Plummer) L. Lobelia 



Herbs or occasionally shrubs with alternate or radical leaves; flowers 

 racemose or spicate; calyx 5-cleft with a short tube; corolla irregular, with a 

 straight tube split down on one side, the upper lip of 2 erect lobes, the lower 

 lip spreading and 3 cleft; stamens 5, free from the corolla tube, monadelphous ; 

 two of the anthers or all of them bearded at the top; ovary 2-celled; fruit a 

 2-celled pod, many-seeded. 



About 200 species, of wide distribution. Some 25 species native to the 

 United States. 



Lobelia inflata L. Indian tobacco 



A pubescent or hirsute, much branched annual from 1-2 feet high ; leaves 

 dentate or denticulate, the lower larger, the upper small, bract-like, but longer 

 than the pedicels of the flower; flowers pale blue; calyx tube ovoid; capsule 

 ovoid, inflated. 



Distribution. In fields, especially clay soils, from Labrador to Georgia, 

 Tennessee, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa to Northwest Territory. 



Poisonous properties. It is used medicinally for laryngitis and spasmodic 

 asthma. In full doses it produces nausea, vomiting and great prostration ; in 

 overdoses it produces prostration, stupor, coma, convulsions and death. 



We quote from Dr. Millspaugh in regard to poisoning: 



Thanks to much reckless prescribing by many so-called Botanic physicians, and to mur- 

 derous intent; as well as to experimentation and careful provings, the action of this drug is 

 pretty thoroughly known. Lobelia in large doses is a decided narcotic poison, producing ef- 

 fects on animals generally, bearing great similitude to somewhat smaller doses of tobacco- and 

 lobelina in like manner to nicotia. Its principal sphere of action seems to be upon the pneu- 

 mogastric nerve, and it is to the organs supplied by this nerve that its toxic symptoms are 

 mainly due, and its "physiological" cures of pertussis, spasmodic asthma, croup and gastralgia 

 gained. Its second action in importance is that of causing general muscular relaxation, and 

 under this it records its cures of strangulated hernia (by enemata), tetanic spasms, convul- 

 sions, hysteria, and mayhap, hydrophobia. Its third action is upon mucous surfaces and secre- 

 tory glands, increasing their secretions. 



The prominent symptoms of its action are: great dejection, exhaustion, and mental depres- 

 sion, even to insensibility and loss of consciousness; nausea and vertigo; contraction of the 

 pupil; profuse clammy salivation; dryness and prickling in the throat; pressure in the oesophagus 

 with a sensation of vermicular motion, most strongly, however, in the larynx and epigastrium; 

 sensation as of a lump in the throat; incessant and violent nausea, witn pain, heat, and op- 

 pression of the respiratory tract; vomiting, followed by great prostration; violent and painful 

 cardiac constriction; griping and drawing abdominal pains; increased urine, easily decomposing 

 and depositing much uric acid; violent racking paroxysmal cough with ropy expectoration; 

 small irregular slow pulse; general weakness and oppression, more marked in the thorax; vio- 

 lent spasmodic pains, with paralytic feeling, especially in the left arm; weariness of the limbs, 

 with cramps in the gastrocnemi; and sensation of chill and fever. Death is usually preceded 

 by insensibility and convulsions. 



It contains lobelic acid, lobelacrin, Inflatin and the alkaloid lobelin 

 C 12 H 23 NO 2 has been isolated which according to Lloyd is a powerful emetic. 

 Lobelia nicotianae folia of India and L. purpurascens contain the same alkaloids. 

 According to the late Baron Ferdinand von Muller the L. Breynii of Australia 

 and other species are poisonous. 



