Lobelia decurrens
Cav.
Campanulaceae
Dortmanna decurrens (Cav.) Kuntze
Lobelia foliosa Kunth
Rapuntium decurrens (Cav.) C.Presl
Rapuntium foliosum (Kunth) C.Presl
Common Name:
General Information
Lobelia decurrens is a perennial plant producing numerous erect to ascending stems from the root crown; the stems are unbranched, they can be herbaceous or somewhat woody and are around 80 - 200cm tall[
2055- Title
- Revision of Lobelia Sect. Homochilus (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae)
- Publication
- Sida 21(2): 591-623, 2004
- Author
- Lammers T.G.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
2055- Title
- Revision of Lobelia Sect. Homochilus (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae)
- Publication
- Sida 21(2): 591-623, 2004
- Author
- Lammers T.G.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
S. America - Peru
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of open to shaded, usually mesic habitats, including roadsides, fencerows, streamsides and abandoned fields; at elevations from 2,280 - 3,355 metres[
2055- Title
- Revision of Lobelia Sect. Homochilus (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae)
- Publication
- Sida 21(2): 591-623, 2004
- Author
- Lammers T.G.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 1.50 m |
| Pollinators | Hummingbirds |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant has a malodorous smell which some claim can impede breathing, whilst the plant is also believed by some to cause warts[
2055- Title
- Revision of Lobelia Sect. Homochilus (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae)
- Publication
- Sida 21(2): 591-623, 2004
- Author
- Lammers T.G.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
An infusion of the plant is a strong laxative. Two cups of cold water are drunk in order to halt its drastic action[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
