Garden Plants - Lobelia

Lobelia cardinalis was named after the Belgian botanist, Mathias de L'Obel. He's yet another botanist who has both a commonplace and a 'latinized' form of his name which is Lobelius. He studied medicine in Leuven and Montpellier.

He became physician to William the Silent, who was Prince of Orange, before moving to England and becoming James the First's physician and botanist. The second part of the name, cardinalis was inspired by the colour of the robes of the Roman Catholic cardinals.

Lobelia cardinalis was first found by explorers in Canada who sent the plant to France in the mid-1620s. Another member of the family Lobelia inflata, is also called Indian tobacco, and has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, pneumonia and coughs. Native Americans smoked lobelia as a treatment for asthma - which makes you wonder

In the 19th century, American physicians prescribed lobelia to induce vomiting which would remove toxins from the body, which earned lobelia the name 'puke weed.' Today, lobelia is considered an effective expectorant, meaning that it helps clear mucus from the respiratory tract. Although few studies have thoroughly evaluated the safety and effectiveness of lobelia, some herbalists today incorporate lobelia into a comprehensive treatment plan for asthma. In addition, it is considered one of the most useful muscle relaxers and is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese. An active ingredient in the lobelia plant, lobeline, stimulates nerves in the central nervous system. Lobelia is considered beneficial for treating mild depression, reducing inflammation and pain, easing muscle tension, and calming the nerves.

Garden Lobelia Inflata photograph by bc anna, used under a creative commons attribution licence