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24. CAMPANULACEAE
1. Lobelia nicotianifolia Heyne ex Roem. in Roth. Nov. Plant. 1821. (Fig. 102).
Lobelia nicotianaefolia Heyne.—Lobelia aromatica Moon—Lobelia excelsa Lesch.—Rapuntium
nicotianaefolium Presl.
Engl. Wild Tobacco; Sinh.. Rasni, Wal-dunkola; Tarn. Kattuppugaiyilai; Hindi
Nala, Narasala; Sans. Bibhishana, Chhtdrana, Devanala, Dhamana, Dirghavansha,
Kichaka, Kukshirandhra, Lalavansha, Mahanala, Mala, Mriduchhada, Mridupatra,
Mrityupushpa, Nada, Nalottama, Narttaka, Nata, Nati, Potagala.Shunyamadhya, Sthuladanda,
Sthutanala, Suradruma, Suranala, Vanshapatra, Vanya.
A large, biennial or perennial herb, stem 1—3 m high, erect, stout, simple or slightly
branched, cylindrical, glabrous or pubescent; leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, nearly sessile,
numerous, the longest 30—45 cm but becoming gradually smaller towards the apex, the uppermost
ones about 7.5 cm long, passing into floral bracts, all linear-lanceolate, tapering at both
ends, serrate, denticulate or nearly entire, glabrous above, glabrous or densely pubescent beneath;
flowers deep purplish-pink or white, irregular, bisexual, numerous, large, on long spreading
pedicels, each with a leafy bract in dense simple or branched, erect, terminal racemes 30—60
cm long; sepals 5, fused into a tube adnate to the ovaiy, glabrous or pubescent, segments
long, linear,acuminate, serrate; petals 5, fused, split down the back to the base, 2-lipped, upper
lip 2-lobed, lower lip 3-lobed, glabrous or pubescent outside, 2.5—3.7cmlong,muchcurved with
a sharp hard point at apex, lobes very long, linear, three, connate throughout, all generally
remaining connected at the apex; stamens 5, epigynous, filaments connate into a tube, curved,
dilated at the base, anthers linear, obtusely pointed, glabrous or with a few hairs on the back;
ovary inferior, 2-locular with two large placentas and numerous oVuIes, style simple, stigma
2-lobed; fruit a "dry capsule, dehiscent loculicidally by 2 valves on the top, protruded above
the rim of adnate calyx-tube, seeds very small, smooth and shining.
Flowers from December to April.
Illustrations. Curtis Bot. Mag. pi. 5587; Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pis. 1172—1174.
1848; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. PI., pi. 567/4. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya., drawing.
Distribution. Grows along the Western Ghats of India from Bombay to Travancore
and rather common in Ceylon in the montane zone from 4000 feet to 7000 feet altitude.
India. Nilghiri and Kurg, G. Thomson. Malabar, Concan, etc., Stocks, Law, etc. Pen.
Ind. Or. Herb. Wight 1274, Kew Distribution 1866—7. Ceylon. Central Prov., Madulkelle,
Senaratne 10, 019, Feb. 1953; Maskeliya, Herb. Peradeniya, March 1883; between Ramboda
and Nuwara Eliya, Thwaites CP. 2592; Maturata, High Forest Estate, A.M. Silva, May
1906; Horton Plains, Haldummulla Road, Willis, Jan. 1906.
Composition. The leaves contain lelobanidines I, Hand HI, lobeline, and nortobelanidine.
The flowers contain only lobeline. The seeds contain an acro-narcotic poison.
Uses. An infusion of the leaves ts used as an antispasmodic and is a useful remedy
for asthma.
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