Perennial herbs often shrub of 3 m high with white latex. Sessile leaves with scars along the stem. Presence of a lot of flowers grouped in a spikelike raceme candle shaped. The stem iis hollow, poorly lignified. The leaf blade obval –lanceolate, pale green,  whitish floral buds.

The above ground part s are used to make medicine. Loberia is used for breathing problems including asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and shortnee of breath (apnea) in newborn infants Some people  take lobelia as a sedative to help them relax. Other people use it to increase sweating.

The stem is used to make a wind instrument ( a flute).