lobelia
lobelia Lexical Profile
lobelia Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of numerous widely distributed plants of the genus Lobelia, often cultivated in gardens for their striking, two-lipped, tubular flowers which are typically bright blue, red, or white.
"The gardener planted trailing blue lobelia in the hanging baskets to cascade gracefully over the edges."
North American A medicinal preparation or herbal remedy derived from the dried leaves and tops of the North American plant Lobelia inflata, historically used as an emetic, antispasmodic, and respiratory stimulant.
"In traditional 19th-century herbalism, small doses of lobelia were sometimes administered to help relax the respiratory tract during asthma attacks."
• Rhymes for lobelia
Word Origin & Etymology
Modern Latin, named in 1703 by Charles Plumier (and later adopted by Linnaeus) in honor of the 16th-century Flemish botanist Matthias de l'Obel (Lobelius).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.