Lobelia Miller (1754), not Linnaeus (1753).

Shrubs or small trees [or herbs]. Leaves alternate and spirally arranged, or opposite. Flowers in axillary cymes, or solitary and axillary; bracts opposite; bracteoles opposite. Calyx epigynous; tube adnate to ovary; limb cupular, short, 5-dentate or 5-lobed. Corolla zygomorphic, posterior side longitudinally divided to near base; lobes 5, subequal in size. Ovary 2-locular; each locule with 1 upright ovule on axile placenta [or 1-locular, with 1 or 2 ovules also on axile placenta]; stigma 2-cleft. Drupe often fleshy; endocarp hard; each locule with 1 seed.

About 80 species: pantropical but mainly in Australia; two species in China.