Family Lobeliaceae, which contains about 750 species of flowering plants in 25 genera.
Some are grown for their attractive, two-lipped flowers. Postlike and shaggy-tree forms are found on mountains in Africa. The family includes the cardinal flower , great blue lobelia ( L. siphilitica ), and Indian tobacco ( L. inflata ). Once used for smoking and for the vomit-inducing alkaloid in its roots, lobelia is now regarded as poisonous.