Lobelia

Lobelia is a genus of flowering plant. The small flowers are usually blue to blue-violet, but white and pink varieties have been developed as well. It does well in planters, baskets and window boxes, and makes colorful ground cover. The plants do best in full sun where summers are cool, especially in moist, rich soil. However, they will also thrive in hotter areas if given partial shade.
Lobelia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some butterfly species.
The genus has 360–400 species, growing mainly in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5. English names include Lobelia, Asthma Weed, Indian Tobacco, Pukeweed, and Vomitwort. The genus is named after the Belgian botanist Matthias de Lobel (1538–1616).
In the United Kingdom lobelias are not winter hardy. Gardeners buy them as bedding plants but they die in the autumn. 
== Selected species ==
* 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
* 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 plants 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 that includes many cultivated selections in a wide variety of colors. They are grown in beds, large pots, window boxes and in hanging baskets. The plants are most often grown away from sunny hot southern exposures (northern exposures in the southern hemisphere) in soils that are moisture retentive. 
In the Victorian language of flowers, the lobelia symbolizes malevolence and ill will.
==References==
==Further reading==
* Everitt, J.H., Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R. Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico, Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, 2007. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
Category:Campanulaceae
Category:Medicinal plants
Category:Plants named after people