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[Facts] Lobelia?
I'm looking for the origins of the name "Lobelia". All that I know is that it's the name of a flower also known as "Indian Tobacco".This is from Wikipedia:Lobelia, also known as Indian Tobacco, is a genus in the family Lobeliaceae, comprising some 200 species, some of which are cultivated in gardens. These include Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower or Indian Pink), Lobelia siphilitica (Blue Lobelia), Lobelia fulgens and Lobelia erinus.Some botanists place the genus in the family Campanulaceae, and the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group did not make a firm decision in this, listing the genus under both families.Lobelia erinus is an annual flowering plant often grown in window boxes and hanging baskets. Many varieties have been cultivated with a wide variety of colours.Lobelia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Setaceous Hebrew Character.The genus is named after Matthias de Lobel (1538–1616).Native Americans used Lobelia to treat respiratory and muscle disorders, and as a purgative. One species, Lobelia siphilitica, was considered a cure for syphilis.Herbalist Samuel Thompson made lobelia and cayenne widley popular as a medicinal aid across the country in the early 1800's.Can anyone find this name?
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Wow - all that information, and you still want more!I'm sceptical about it being or having been a given name in statistically visible numbers. Tolkien used it as a Hobbit name; Hobbit women tend to have flower names, and the more weird or unlovable the character, the odder her name! Much like Bertie Wooster's aunts, though I don't think Wodehouse uses Lobelia. Dahlia, yes! My role model!If I was considering Lobelia as a name, I think I'd be put off by the first syllable, which since it has the main stress would be the obvious one to use as a nn. And 'Lo' seems uninspiring ...
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The American Heritage Dictionary says:
New Latin Lobelia, genus name, after Matthias de Lobel (1538-1616), Flemish botanist and physician.And here's info on the surname Lobel: http://snipurl.com/nnzr.
Miranda
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