Pilli
Lobelia nana

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has stolons or runners and the stem root at the nodes forming mats. The leaves are broadly oval and 5-16 mm long. The flowers occur singly at the ends of the plant and are 1 cm long. They are blue.

There are about 400 Lobelia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. The plant grows in water and irrigation ditches. It gro ws between 3,000-4,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The leaves are boiled and used to flavour soups.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Dortmanna cymbalaria (Griseb.) Kuntze; Dortmanna nana (Kunth) Kuntze; Lobelia bellis E.Wimm.; Lobelia cymbalaria Griseb.; Lobelia cymbalarioides Zahlbr. [Illegitimate]; Lobelia nana var. cymbalarioides E.Wimm.; Lobelia nana var. flagelliformis Wedd.; Lobelia nana var. nana; Pratia boliviensis A.DC.; Rapuntium nanum (Kunth) C.Presl;