Campanulaceae
Lobelia

Lobelia erinus L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 932 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & S. Africa. It is an annual or subshrub and grows primarily in the subtropical biome. It is has environmental uses, as a medicine and for food.

Descriptions

Lobeliaceae, M. Thulin. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit
Annual or sometimes perennial, decumbent to erect herb, 5–70 cm. long or tall.
Morphology Stem
Stem terete to ± triangular or ribbed, glabrous to pubescent at least below with rather rigid to very fine and soft hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves up to 15–75(100) x (1)4–20 mm., sparsely Sérrulate to dentate, crenate or almost pinnatifid, the upper linear to narrowly elliptic, the lower sometimes ± rosulate, oblanceolate to spathulate, acute to obtuse at the apex, narrowing below into a petiole–like base or an up to 15 mm. long petiole, glabrous to pubescent on both surfaces, or ciliate at the leaf–bases only.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in lax racemes; pedicels up to 5–45 mm. long, glabrous or occasionally pubescent; bracts similar to upper stem leaves, much shorter to equalling the pedicels; bracteoles c. 0·4· 1·2 mm. long, linear, at or near the base of the pedicel, occasionally absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium narrowly obconical to obovoid, 8–10–nerved, glabrous or occasionally pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx–lobes narrowly triangular to subulate, erect or somewhat spreading, 1·2–5 mm. long, entire, glabrous or occasionally pubescent or ciliate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 7–13 mm. long, blue or rarely mauve or white, with two bumps in the mouth of the tube, split to 0·6–2·8(3·2) mm. from the base on the back, short pubescent or papillose on the inside of the tube, glabrous or occasionally pubescent on the outside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3–7 mm. long; filaments linear, puberulous and attached to the corolla–tube at the base; anther–tube 1·2–2·4 mm. long, ± pubescent on the back of the upper thecae, or occasionally glabrous, the two lower anthers each with a tuft of hairs and a hyaline appendage at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary subinferior.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 8–10–nerved with 2 valves ± 1 mm. long, inferior part of capsule 3–8 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds elliptic to broadly elliptic in outline, somewhat compressed, 0·3–0·4 mm. long, very finely striate, brown.
[FZ]

Lobeliaceae, Mats Thulin (University of Uppsala). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit
Annual or sometimes perennial, decumbent to erect herb, 5–70 cm. long or tall.
Morphology Stem
Stem terete to ± triangular or ribbed, glabrous to pubescent at least below with rather rigid to very fine and soft hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves up to 15–75(–100) mm. long, (1–)4–20 mm. wide, sparsely serrulate to dentate, crenate or almost pinnatifid, the upper linear to narrowly elliptic, the lower sometimes ± rosulate, oblanceolate to spathulate, acute to obtuse at the apex, narrowing below into a petiole-like base or an up to 15 mm. long petiole, glabrous to pubescent on both surfaces, or ciliate at the leaf-bases only.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in lax racemes; pedicels up to 5–45 mm. long, glabrous or occasionally pubescent; bracts similar to upper stem leaves, much shorter than to equalling the pedicels; bracteoles ± 0.4–1.2 mm. long, linear, at or near the base of the pedicel, occasionally absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium narrowly obconical to obovoid, 8–10-nerved, glabrous or occasionally pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes narrowly triangular to subulate, erect or somewhat spreading, 1.2–5 mm. long, entire, glabrous or occasionally pubescent or ciliate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 7–13 mm. long, blue or rarely mauve or white, with 2 bumps in the mouth of the tube, split to 0.6–2.8(–3.2) mm. from the base on the back, shortly pubescent or papillose on the inside of the tube, glabrous or occasionally pubescent on the outside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3–7 mm. long; filaments puberulous and attached to the corolla-tube at the base; anther-tube 1.2–2.4 mm. long, ± pubescent on the back of the upper thecae, or occasionally glabrous; 2 lower anthers each with a tuft of hairs and a hyaline appendage at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary subinferior.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 8–10-nerved, with 2 valves ± 1 mm. long, inferior part of capsule 3–8 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds elliptic to broadly elliptic in outline, somewhat compressed, 0.3–0.4 mm. long, very finely striate, brown.
Habitat
Boggy grassland, riverbanks, upland grassland; 0–2400 m.
Distribution
T4 T7 Z widespread in tropical and southern Africa
[FTEA]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 2150 - 2300 m.; Andes.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba
[CPLC]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
avispitas, zulia
[UNAL]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Annual or sometimes perennial herb, 5–70 cm high
Morphology Stem
Stem terete or ribbed, glabrous to pubescent at least below
Morphology Leaves
Leaves oblanceolate to spathulate, up to 15–75(–100) x (1–)4–20 mm, serrulate to dentate or crenate, glabrous to ciliate or pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers in lax racemes; bracts much shorter than to equalling the pedicels
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes 1.2–5 mm long, entire, usually glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 7–13 mm long, usually blue
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Tube 1.2–2.4 mm long, usually ± pubescent on the back; 2 lower anthers each with a tuft of hairs and a hyaline appendage at the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule with inferior part 3–8 mm long and valves ± 1 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds somewhat compressed, 0.3–0.4 mm long, almost smooth.
Distribution
N1 widespread in tropical and southern Africa, but very rare in north-east tropical Africa.
Ecology
Altitude c. 1500 m.
[FSOM]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 2150–2300 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bogotá DC, Cundinamarca.
Habit
Herb.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.
[UPFC]

Lobeliaceae, E. Wimmer. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit
A glabrous erect, branched herb, about 1 ft. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers pale blue with white spots.
[FWTA]

Uses

Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
[UPFC]

Common Names

English
Edging lobelia, Garden lobelia, Wild lobelia

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Plants and People Africa

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
    • © Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0