PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT

Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis





Someday, we will fondly remember when mood- altering drugs were all botanical and not cooked from chemicals in a laboratory or a rented garage.

   Instead of tea, coffee, chocolate, marijuana, cocaine, opium, alcohol and nicotine, we now have the scourge of crystal meth. And worse. Meanwhile, parents are being alerted to the dangers inherit in Lobelias of all things. What an atrocity this Sick Kids’ list is. It is appalling. When this alphabetical roster was put together (by someone from the typing pool perhaps) it appears that no one thought to ask, “Are we doing the right thing in telling people that Delphiniums, Daisies, Peonies and Wisteria,( the whole silly list,) are ‘known to be poisonous to humans’? “ If they ask why, can we tell them? Does anybody know?”

   Do not for a moment suppose that the list derives from cases arriving at Emergency Admitting or treated in the wards of the hospital. They got the list from other peoples’ lists and probably from the, as yet, immature Internet. The literature on poisonous plants is intricately incestuous as one writer parrots the claims of another while they have been quoting someone else, perhaps even you. Everyone believing and depending that the originator or someone somewhere along the line knew what they were talking about. A circular recycling of arrant nonsense for the most part.

Indian Tobacco
Lobelia inflata

To simply state that Lobelia are poisonous (or anything else on the list) without explanation must fall short of anyone’s expectations. It is perfectly true that Indian Tobacco, Lobelia inflata is always described as poisonous although it is still touted as a remedy for asthma and bronchitis in the world of ‘alternative medicine’. It is a poor substitute for a smoke. The nicotine is minimal if any and its’ effect is described as ‘transient’. The University of Maryland has a special interest in Alternative or Complementary Medicine although I can’t decide whether they are for it or against it. Just don’t say that I sent you.

European settlers were bemused to see First Nations people smoking Kinnikinnick, a mix of all kinds of bark and leaves including this Lobelia. When there were no doctors and no pharmacies, folks had to cope with their ailments as best they could. The blue-flowered Lobelia syphilitica was obviously named with the hopeful idea that it would cure that sexually transmitted scourge. Lobelia and a thousand other herbal nostrums would be tried to that end. That was then, this is now.

 “Information for Families” could benefit many but they would hardly need advice about the Lobelias in their life. Indian Tobacco is a weedy form that I can not recommend for any reason but there are some beauties for the garden. Brilliant red is comparatively rare in perennials but you will find it in the hardy native Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis. Lobelia ‘Queen Victoria’ has rich red foliage in addition to the five- lobed tubular red flowers but is scarcely hardy due to its’ crossing with a Mexican form.    These are absolutely essential plants for the butterfly garden and the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds go crazy for the tall flower spikes. They demand moist soil. Water them, then soak them and water again. Then keep them moist.