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Nicotiana tabacum L.
| Family Name: | Solanaceae |
| Synonyms: | Nicotiana chinensis, Nicotiana tabaca |
| Common Name: | Tobacco, 烟草 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial, Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.7 m to 2.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Annual or short-lived perennial up to 2.5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves (5-50 cm long, 5-25 cm wide) are ovate-lanceolate (egg-shaped to lance-shaped) or elliptical (oval). The leaf margin is entire (smooth edges). |
| Flowers | Funnel-shaped flowers are yellowish near the base with light pink lobes (sometimes also red, yellowish or greenish). The tubular corolla divides into pointed, unequal lobes. Up to 150 flowers are arranged in branched inflorescences known as thyrsoid panicles). |
| Fruit | Dry, dehiscent fruits are known as capsules (1.5-2 cm long). They are oval, egg-shaped or round and split into 2 parts. Each capsule contains 2000-5000 seeds which are light to dark brown and egg-shaped to round. |
| Cultivation | This species is cultivated in a wide variety of climates from temperate to tropical. It does not tolerate waterlogged soils and requires excellent drainage. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: In Indonesian folk medicine, pounded leaves are used in combination with other herbs to treat wounds and ulcers. Others: The dried leaves are used to make cigarettes and cigars. Nicotine extracted from the plant are used as insecticide and insect repellent. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Container Planting |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | All parts of the plant are poisonous. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
| Seed / Spore Germination Duration | 5 days |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose, Sticky |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Lanceolate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Individual Flower Shape | Funnelform / Funnel-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
References
| References | van der Vossen, H.A.M., Wessel, M.. 2000. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 16. Stimulants.. Indonesia: Backhuys Publishers. 201 pp. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31713 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6112 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |