Lobelia chinensis

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Lobelia chinensis 01
background-color: transparent" background-color: transparent"
colspan=2 style="text-align: center;
background-color: transparent" | Lobelia chinensis
colspan=2 style="min-width:15em; text-align: center;
background-color: transparent" | Scientific classification edit
Missing taxonomy template ([//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?action=edit&title=Template:taxonomy/Lobelia&preload=Template:Taxonomy/preload
fix]):
Lobelia
Species
colspan=2 style="text-align: center;
background-color: transparent" | Binomial name
Template:Taxonomy/Lobelia Lobelia chinensis
Lour.

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Template redirect regex' not found.

Lobelia chinensis, commonly known as Chinese Lobelia, is a species of flowering plant in the Campanulaceae family. It is native to East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. This perennial herb is often found in wet meadows, marshes, and along stream banks.

Description[edit | edit source]

Lobelia chinensis is a low-growing herbaceous plant that typically reaches a height of 10-30 cm. The leaves are linear to lanceolate, measuring 1-3 cm in length and 2-5 mm in width. The plant produces small, tubular flowers that are usually blue or violet, although white forms are also known. The flowers are zygomorphic, meaning they have bilateral symmetry, and they bloom from late summer to early autumn.

Habitat and Distribution[edit | edit source]

Lobelia chinensis thrives in moist environments and is commonly found in wet meadows, marshes, and along the banks of streams and rivers. It is widely distributed across East Asia, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea. The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and can grow in a variety of soil types, provided they are well-drained.

Uses[edit | edit source]

In traditional Chinese medicine, Lobelia chinensis is known as Bàn Biān Lián (半边莲) and is used for its purported medicinal properties. It is believed to have anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and detoxifying effects. The plant is often used in the treatment of conditions such as edema, jaundice, and snake bites. However, scientific evidence supporting these uses is limited.

Cultivation[edit | edit source]

Lobelia chinensis can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade. The plant is relatively low-maintenance and can be grown in garden settings, particularly in areas that mimic its natural wetland habitat.

Related Species[edit | edit source]

Lobelia chinensis is part of the Lobelia genus, which includes several other species such as:

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD