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Lobelia tupa

Common name:	Devil's Tobacco	Family:	Campanulaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	The whole plant is poisonous[200]. It contains the alkaloid lobeline which has a similar effect upon the nervous system as nicotine[274]. Even smelling this plant has been known to cause sickness[274].
Range:	S. America - Chile.
Habitat:	Wooded slopes, in the open and amongst shrubs[192].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Campanulales. Bellflower family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 2m by 1m . It is hardy to zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from September to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Narcotic; Odontalgic.

A juice pressed from the leaves is used in the treatment of toothache[192, 238].
The plant is smoked as an intoxicant[192, 200, 238].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Best grown in full sun or in an open position in light shade with some shelter from the wind[200]. Requires a permanently moist fertile loamy soil[200].
This species is hardy to about -10°c, but in areas with mild maritime winters plants can be induced into early growth and this growth is more susceptible to frost damage[200].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a greenhouse[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in the spring[200]. Plants can also be divided and potted up in the autumn and kept in a cold frame over the winter to protect against losses in severe winters[200].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[192] Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979 ISBN 0-289-70864-8
A lot of details about the history, chemistry and use of narcotic plants, including hallucinogens, stimulants, inebriants and hypnotics.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

Readers Comments

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Lobelia+tupa
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lobelia+tupa

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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.