Lobelia 430886 222692851 2008-06-30T17:26:28Z Esculapio 619434 {{Taxobox | name = ''Lobelia'' | image = Lobelia close-up (aka).jpg | image_width = 270px | image_caption = ''Lobelia erinus'' | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Asterales]] | familia = [[Campanulaceae]] | subfamilia = [[Lobelioideae]] | genus = '''''Lobelia''''' | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }} [[Image:BaleLobelias.jpg|thumb|right|Lobelias at about 4,000 m in the [[Bale Mountains]] in the [[Ethiopian Highlands]].]] [[Image:Lobelia (aka).jpg|thumb|right|''Lobelia erinus'']] [[Image:MtKenyaLobelia.jpg|thumb|right|Giant Lobelias, [[Mount Kenya]].]] '''''Lobelia''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]] comprising 360–400 species, with a [[cosmopolitan distribution|subcosmopolitan]] distribution primarily in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions.<ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref> English names include '''Lobelia''', '''Asthma Weed''', '''Indian Tobacco''', '''Pukeweed''', and '''Vomitwort'''. Some botanists place the genus and its relatives in the separate family [[Lobeliaceae]], others as a subfamily [[Lobelioideae]] within the [[Campanulaceae]]. The [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] did not make a firm decision in this, listing the genus under both families. ''Lobelia'' is probably the base form from which many other [[Lobelioideae|lobelioid]] genera are derived; it is therefore highly [[paraphyletic]] and not a good genus. For example, the [[Hawaii|Hawaiian]] species are part of a group including other genera that appear very different (see [[Hawaiian lobelioids]]). However, the group has not yet been studied adequately to rearrange the classification.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} ''Lobelia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including the [[Setaceous Hebrew Character]]. The genus is named after the Belgian botanist [[Matthias de Lobel]] (1538–1616).<ref name=rhs/> == Selected species == {| |- valign=top | * ''[[Lobelia aberdarica]]'' * ''[[Lobelia anatina]]'' – Southwestern Blue Lobelia * ''[[Lobelia anceps]]'' * ''[[Lobelia appendiculata]]'' * ''[[Lobelia assurgens]]'' * ''[[Lobelia berlandieri]]'' * ''[[Lobelia boykinii]]'' * ''[[Lobelia canbyi]]'' * ''[[Lobelia cardinalis]]'' (syn. ''L. fulgens'') – Scarlet Lobelia * ''[[Lobelia chinensis]]'' * ''[[Lobelia comosa]]'' * ''[[Lobelia coronopifolia]]'' * ''[[Lobelia deckenii]]'' * ''[[Lobelia dortmanna]]'' * ''[[Lobelia erinus]]'' – Edging Lobelia * ''[[Lobelia flaccidifolia]]'' * ''[[Lobelia flaccida]]'' * ''[[Lobelia gaudichaudii]]'' * ''[[Lobelia gerardii]]'' * ''[[Lobelia gibberoa]]'' * ''[[Lobelia ilicifolia]]'' (syn. ''L. purpurascens'') – Purple Lobelia * ''[[Lobelia inflata]]'' – Indian Tobacco * ''[[Lobelia kalmii]]'' | * ''[[Lobelia keniensis]]'' * ''[[Lobelia laxiflora]]'' – Sierra Madre Lobelia<!-- Biotropica 23: 98 --> * ''[[Lobelia leschenaultiana]]'' * ''[[Lobelia monostachya]]'' * ''[[Lobelia nicotianifolia]]'' * ''[[Lobelia niihauensis]]'' * ''[[Lobelia oahuensis]]'' * ''[[Lobelia persicifolia]]'' * ''[[Lobelia pinifolia]]'' * ''[[Lobelia puberula]]'' * ''[[Lobelia pyramidalis]]'' * ''[[Lobelia rhombifolia]]'' * ''[[Lobelia rosea]]'' * ''[[Lobelia sessilifolia]]'' * ''[[Lobelia siphilitica]]'' * ''[[Lobelia spicata]]'' * ''[[Lobelia telekii]]'' * ''[[Lobelia tenuior]]'' * ''[[Lobelia thapsoidea]]'' * ''[[Lobelia tupa]]'' * ''[[Lobelia urens]]'' * ''[[Lobelia valida]]'' * ''[[Lobelia zeylanica]]'' |} ==Cultivation and uses== Several species are cultivated as [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens. These include ''[[Lobelia cardinalis]]'' (Cardinal Flower or Indian Pink), ''[[Lobelia siphilitica]]'' (Blue Lobelia), ''[[Lobelia fulgens]]'' and ''[[Lobelia erinus]]'', as well as some hybrids. ''Lobelia erinus'', a South African [[Annual plant|annual]] plant that includes many cultivated selections in a wide variety of colours. They are grown in beds, large pots, [[window box]]es and in hanging baskets. The plants are most often grown away from sunny hot southern exposures (northern exposure's in the southern hemisphere) in soils that are moisture retentive. In the [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[language of flowers]], the lobelia symbolizes malevolence and ill will. ===Medicinal use=== [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] used lobelia to treat respiratory and muscle disorders, and as a [[purgative]]. Today it is used to treat [[asthma]] and [[food poisoning]], and is often used as part of smoking cessation programs. It is a physical relaxant, and can serve as a nerve depressant, easing tension and panic. The species used most commonly in modern herbalism is ''[[Lobelia inflata]]'' (Indian Tobacco).<ref name="EBSCO">{{cite web | url = http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=2e7354b6-ae71-4dab-90df-c7026eb1c66f&chunkiid=111703 | title = Lobelia | publisher = EBSCO Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Review Board | date = January 2006 | accessdate = 2007-09-12}}</ref> Extracts of ''Lobelia inflata'' contain [[lobeline]], which showed positive effects in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tumor cells.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18222670?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum</ref> Furthermore, lobeline can be modified to lobelane which decreased [[methamphetamine]] self-administration in rats.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17612524?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum</ref> It therefore opens a perspective in methamphetamine dependency treatment.<ref>http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2006/0216/wissenschaft/0001/index.html</ref> As used in North America, lobelia's medicinal properties include the following: emetic (induces vomiting), stimulant, antispasmodic, expectorant, diaphoretic, relaxant, nauseant, sedative, diuretic, and nervine. Because of its similarity to [[nicotine]], the internal use of lobelia may be dangerous to susceptible populations, including children, pregnant women, and individuals with cardiac disease. Excessive use will cause nausea and vomiting. It is not recommended for use by pregnant women and is best administered by a practitioner qualified in its use. Two species, ''[[Lobelia siphilitica]]'' and ''[[Lobelia cardinalis]]'', were considered a cure for [[syphilis]]<ref>Guédon, Marie-Françoise (2000). ''Sacred Smudging in North America''. Walkabout Press.</ref>. Herbalist [[Samuel Thompson]] popularized medicinal use of lobelia in the United States in the early 19th century, as well as other medicinal plants like [[goldenseal]].<ref name="EBSCO" /> {{Commons|Lobelia}} One species, ''L. chinensis'' (called ''bàn biān lián'', [[wikt:半|半]][[wikt:边|边]][[wikt:莲|莲]] in Chinese), is used as one of the [[Chinese herbology#50 fundamental herbs|fifty fundamental herbs]] in [[traditional Chinese medicine]]. ==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== {{Cite book |last=Everitt |first=J.H. |coauthors=Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R. |title=Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico |publisher=Texas Tech University Press |location=Lubbock |year=2007}} ISBN 0-89672-614-2 [[Category:Campanulaceae]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[Category:Plants named after people]] [[de:Männertreu]] [[fr:Lobelia]] [[it:Lobelia]] [[nl:Lobelia]] [[ja:ロベリア]] [[pl:Lobelia]] [[ru:Лобелия]]