lobelia

lo·be·lia

noun \lō-ˈbēl-yə, -ˈbē-lē-ə\

Definition of LOBELIA

1

capitalized : any of a genus (Lobelia of the family Lobeliaceae, the lobelia family) of widely distributed herbaceous plants (as Indian tobacco)

2

: the leaves and tops of Indian tobacco used especially formerly as an expectorant and antispasmodic

Biographical Note for LOBELIA

L'Obel ??? Mathias de (1538–1616), Flemish botanist. L'Obel ranks among the great botanists who preceded Linnaeus. In 1570 he published a work describing more than 1200 plants. He classified plants according to leaf structure, and he apparently tried to incorporate into his classification concepts of genus and family. The genus Lobelia was named in his honor in 1702 by the French botanist Charles Plumier (1646–1704).