Practical
Plants

Nicotiana tabacum

Tobacco

an annual member of the Nicotiana genus in the family Solanaceae. This is the Nicotiana species most often grown as a commercial tobacco crop.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, 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.

All parts of the plant are poisonous[17][6][21][22]. They contain a volatile oil called nicotine, this is a virulent poison that produces nausea, vomiting, sweating, palpitations and nausea[12].

Edible uses

Please see notes on toxicity

Plant part
Leaves
Preparation
Extracted
Product or use
Egg substitute, Protein

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.

Tobacco has a long history of use by medical herbalists as a relaxant, though since it is a highly additive drug it is seldom employed internally or externally at present[17][14]. The leaves are antispasmodic, discutient, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, irritant, narcotic, sedative and sialagogue[17][7][10]. They are used externally in the treatment of rheumatic swelling, skin diseases and scorpion stings[13]. The plant should be used with great caution[17], when taken internally it is an addictive narcotic[11]. The active ingredients can also be absorbed through the skin[17]. Wet tobacco leaves can be applied to stings in order to relieve the pain[10]. They are also a certain cure for painful piles[17]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the dried leaves[12]. It is used in the treatment of nausea and travel sickness[12].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Leaves
Preparation
Wetted
Product or use
Analgesic, Antiseptic
Product or use
Narcotic

Material uses

All parts of the plant contain nicotine, this has been extracted and used as an insecticide[8][16][18]. The dried leaves can also be used, they remain effective for 6 months after drying[2]. The juice of the leaves can be rubbed on the body as an insect repellent[10]. The leaves have been dried and chewed as an intoxicant. The dried leaves are also used as snuff or smoked. This is the main species that is used to make cigarettes and cigars. A drying oil is obtained from the seed[20][3].

Plant part
Whole plant, Leaves
Preparation
Extracted
Product or use
Insecticide
Plant part
Whole plant
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
S. America. Naturalized in C. and S. Europe.
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation.
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

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

Prefers a well-drained deep rich moist soil in a sunny position[1][9]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, but they can be grown as biennials in areas where winter temperatures do not fall below about -5°c[9]. A polymorphic species[19]. Tobacco is very widely cultivated for its leaves, there are many named varieties[5]. As well as being used as an insecticide, the leaves are used to make cigarettes, cigars, snuff and for chewing. There are many long-term health problems associated with these uses, especially from cancer, lung, circulatory and heart diseases. The plant accumulates potassium[4]. The plant has sweetly scented flowers that release most of their scent in the evening and attract moths[15]. Plant requires more than 14 hours daylight per day in order to induce flowering[2].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  4. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

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  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  6. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

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  7. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

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  8. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

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  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  10. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  12. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  14. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

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  15. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

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  16. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  18. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  19. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  20. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  21. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  22. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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  23. [Nicotiana tabacum] Wikipedia (2013/05/03)

  24. [Worldwide Botanical Knowledge Base] Worldwide Botanical Knowledge Base ()

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