General poisoning notes:

Indian-tobacco (Lobelia inflata) is a herb native to Canada. In the past, aboriginal people smoked its dried leaves. This plant and related Lobelia species were used as medicinal plants. Overdoses led to cases of poisoning, which resulted in fatalities. No modern cases of poisoning are found in the literature. The dried leaves of Lobelia may be found in health food stores as a herbal medicine (Lampe and McCann 1985).

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Lobelia inflata L.
 

Vernacular name(s): Indian-tobacco

Scientific family name: Campanulaceae

Vernacular family name: bellflower

Go to ITIS*^ca for more taxonomic information on: Lobelia inflata

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

British Columbia
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
 

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Image or illustration

Indian-tobacco:

Images: images.google.com

Toxic parts:

leaves
stems
 

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Lobeline is one of several alkaloids found in Indian-tobacco and other Lobelia species. This extract has been used in home medicine for various purposes. Overdoses have resulted in cases of poisoning, including death. The dry leaves of Lobelia may be sold in health food stores as a herbal remedy.

Toxic plant chemicals:

lobeline
 

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

collapse
coma
death
pain
paralysis
sweating
vomiting
 

Notes on poisoning:

In overdoses of the plant extract, symptoms included vomiting, sweating, pain, paralysis, depressed temperature, rapid but feeble pulse, coma, and death (Kingsbury 1964).

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.