Lobelia tupa
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| Lobelia tupa |
Lobelia tupa is a species of the genus Lobelia which bears luxuriant, grey-green, elliptical foliage and beautiful red trumpet-shaped flowers in a sympodium pattern. It is native to Chile, and thrives in dry soils, where it can attain heights of 5 feet.
Its latex is used as an abortifacient, and a hallucinogen, which may explain one of its common names, Tabaco del Diablo (Devil's tobacco). The Mepuche Indians of Northern Mexico consider it a sacred plant. Tupa leaves have also been found to contain chemicals that act as a respiratory stimulant.
SOURCES: Horus Botanicals, Ethnobotanical Seed Catalogue, 1999-2000 (submitted by SantaFeBear 16:40, 18 February 2007 (UTC))
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