Nicotiana glauca
Tree Tobacco
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Nicotiana genus in the family Solanaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Genus
- Nicotiana
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 3 m
- Spread
- 3 m
- Fertility
- Lepidoptera
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Lepidoptera
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
All parts of the plant are poisonous[3].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves have been made into a drink[8]. Some care should be exercised here. The tea will contain nicotine and this can be toxic to the body. There are no edible uses listed for Nicotiana glauca.
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A poultice of the leaves can be applied to cuts, bruises, swellings and other wounds[4]. The plant has been used as a poultice for removing the pus from scrofulous sores or boils[4]. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to inflamed throat glands[4]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[4].
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- Skin
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
All parts of the plant contain nicotine, this has been extracted and used as an insecticide[5][7].
- Product or use
- Insecticide
Environment
- Range
- S. America - S. Bolivia to N. Argentina. Naturalized in the Mediterranean.
- Habitat
- Rocks, walls and roadsides in the Mediterranean[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - surface sow in a warm greenhouse about 10 weeks before the last expected spring frosts. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 20 days at 20°c. Keep the soil moist and pot up as soon as the plants are big enough to handle, planting them out after the last expected frosts.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a well-drained deep rich moist soil in a sunny position[1][3]. This species is hardy to about -5°c[3]. Plants can survive the winter outdoors in the milder parts of Britain, though they usually act as herbaceous perennials in such conditions[3]. Plants require more than 14 hours daylight per day in order to induce flowering[2].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)