Lobelia, << loh BEEL yuh, >> is the name of a large genus (group) of plants that vary in form from small herbs to trees. There are more than 350 species of lobelias. The plants produce a milky juice, and most species have showy, two-lipped flowers.
Most species of lobelias grow in the tropics. The leaves and bark of the tree lobelias of Africa are eaten by gorillas, which also make nests in the tops of the trees. About 30 species of lobelias grow in the United States. Several of these are cultivated as garden flowers. They include the great lobelia, the cardinal flower, and the edging lobelia. North American Indians used the dried leaves and blossoms of a lobelia called Indian tobacco in their medicine.
