Lobelia

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Lobelia

Lobelia (/loʊˈbiːliə/ loh-BEE-lee-ə) is a genus of flowering plants comprising 415 species, with a subcosmopolitan distribution primarily in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions. They are known generally as lobelias.

Etymology

The genus Lobelia is named after the Belgian botanist Matthias de Lobel (1538–1616).

Description

Lobelia species are annuals, perennials (some monocarpic), or shrubs. A few species are aquatic. They have simple, alternate leaves and two-lipped tubular flowers, each with five lobes. The lower three lobes are larger and more showy than the upper two lobes which are typically erect.

Species

Some well-known species include Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco), Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower), and Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia).

Uses

Lobelias are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the setaceous Hebrew character. Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens. Some species, such as Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco), have been used in smoking cessation programs, although they are currently not approved for over-the-counter sales for this purpose in the United States.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski