Lobelia tupa DEVIL'S TOBACCO (20 seeds)

Lobelia tupa called also Devil's tobacco is a species of Lobelia native to central Chile.
Lobelia tupa is an evergreen perennial plant growing to 4 m tall.
The Lobelia tupa is a beautiful plant with red flowers.
Seeds of devil's tobacco are black and small, of small size like that of marjoram or fireweed.

Its latex is used as an abortifacient, and a hallucinogen, which may explain one of its common names, Tabaco del Diablo (Devil's tobacco).
Ironically, this plant has been used as a counter effect herb on nicotine addiction because of alkaloid Lobeline, a nicotinic agonist.
The Mapuche Indians of Southern Chile consider it a sacred plant.

Lobelia tupa loves dry soil and its roots contain a white latex irritating to the skin.
Almost the whole plant is adorned with luxuriant foliage, often finely hairy.

The leaves of Lobelia tupa contain the alkaloid piperidine and lobelin which are respiratory stimulants similar to the bala or the tasmanian blue gum tree.
It is used for popular medicine.
It was consumed as a substitute for tobacco.

Sowing devil's tobacco seeds:
Sprinkle your Lobelia tupa seeds in a fine, well-drained tray.
Place your box in a greenhouse or mini-greenhouse until the devil's tobacco seedlings are 3 to 5 cm long and then transplanted into the garden or directly in a pot.