Definition of "lobelia" [lo•be•li•a]

• Any of numerous plants of the genus Lobelia, having terminal racemes of variously colored flowers with a bilabiate corolla. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "For spasmodic coughs and whooping coughs, thyme is very effective as well, but it can be enhanced by giving five drops of tincture of lobelia, which is a powerful antipasmodic."
• "It works especially well for flowers with thin, delicate petals, such as lobelia, heather, campanula, and many herbs."
• "Very small seeds, such as lobelia and musk, should not be covered by earth, but a sheet of glass over the box is beneficial, as it keeps the moisture from evaporating too quickly."