Indian tobacco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian tobacco |
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| Lobelia inflata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lobelia
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| Species: |
inflata
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Lobelia inflata, often called Indian tobacco, is a plant that grows naturally in eastern North America. You can find it from southeastern Canada (like Nova Scotia and southeast Ontario) all the way south through the eastern United States to Alabama and west to Kansas.
Contents
What Indian Tobacco Looks Like
Indian tobacco is a type of plant that lives for one or two years. It's called an herbaceous plant, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. This plant can grow from about 15 to 100 centimeters (6 to 39 inches) tall. Its stems are covered in tiny hairs.
The leaves of the Indian tobacco plant are usually about 8 centimeters (3 inches) long. They are shaped like an egg and have small teeth along their edges. These leaves grow one after another along the stem.
The plant has pretty violet flowers that are a bit yellow inside. These flowers usually start to bloom in the middle of summer and keep blooming until fall. After the flowers, small, brown, papery seedcases form. These cases open up to release their tiny seeds.
How Indian Tobacco Grows and Spreads
You can grow new Indian tobacco plants from cuttings or from seeds. If you use seeds, you should plant them in containers in the middle of spring or the middle of fall. The seeds usually take about two weeks to sprout.
Traditional Uses and Important Safety Information
For a long time, Indian tobacco has been used as a herbal medicine by some people. Native Americans used this plant for different purposes. They used it for problems with breathing and muscles. They also used it as a medicine for ceremonies. Some Native American groups, like the Cherokee, Iroquois, and Penobscot, used the plant in their traditions. The Cherokee even burned the leaves to create smoke that helped keep gnats away.
Important Safety Warning: Even though Indian tobacco has been used in traditional medicine, it is not safe to eat or use without expert guidance. Consuming any part of the plant can cause serious problems. These problems can include sweating, feeling sick to your stomach, throwing up, diarrhea, shaking, a fast heartbeat, confusion, seizures, and even more severe issues. The root of the plant is especially toxic and can be very dangerous if eaten. Never try to use this plant as medicine or eat it.
Images for kids
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Lobelia inflata
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Lobelia inflata flower
