Common Name:

General Information

Lobelia leschenaultiana is an erect, biennial to perennial plant with stems that can become woody and persist; it can grow up to 400cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a pesticide and nicotine substitute.

Known Hazards

Many, if not all, species in the genus Lobelia contain a range of piperidine alkaloids, particularly lobeline and lobelanine. If ingested, these can cause a range of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma. Generally, the degree of toxicity is only moderate and plants are only harmful in larger quantities - indeed several species have medicinal uses and a few are even eaten as wild foods[]

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southwest India, Sri Lanka

Habitat

Open hilly slopes, forest edges, roadsides and forest clearings; at elevations from 800 - 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Biennial/Perennial
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can flower almost all year round[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a masticatory[]. They contain piperidine alkaloids that have a similar action to nicotine[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A spray made from an infusion of the leaves is used for the control of aphis and mites on vegetable crops[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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