LOBE LIA TUPA. 
TUPA LOBELIA. 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
LOBELIACEJE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
J. Fernand. 
6 feet. 
Sept. Oct. 
Perennial. 
in 1824. 
No. 503. 
The name. Lobelia, was adopted in honour of the 
Flemish botanist, Matthias de Lobel, Tupa is the 
common Chilian name. 
Several varieties of this very handsome autumnal 
flowering plant have lately appeared in our gardens. 
They grow with great luxuriance and assume a bold 
and ornamental appearance. Much has been said 
regarding its virulently poisonous effects, but these 
statements have wholly emanated from the “Journal 
des Observations” of Feuillee, who travelled in South 
America. He says the smell of the flowers cause 
severe vomitings, and the milky juice of the plant, 
if it touch the eye, occasions blindness. The first 
assertion is, certainly, incorrect. Dr. Darwin adds, 
poetically, to the alarm — 
“ And fell Lobelia’s suffocating breath 
Loads the dark pinion of the gale with death.” 
The Lobelia tupa is by no means frequently seen, 
even amongst the best collections of plants. It is 
not very hardy, and should, therefore, be planted in 
a warm situation. Near a south wall, in a tolerably 
dry soil, it seldom fails. It may be increased by 
divisions of its roots. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 3, 700. 
