Nicotiana tabacum L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 180 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Bolivia. It is an annual or perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as a poison, a medicine and invertebrate food, has environmental uses and social uses and for food.

Descriptions

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Orinoquia. Elevation range: 100–2600 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Bogotá DC, Cauca, Cesar, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Nariño, Putumayo, Santander, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés.
Habit
Herb, Liana.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.
Vernacular
Tabaco, Tabak, Tawaku
[UPFC]

Solanaceae, H. heine. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit
Robust annual up to 6 ft. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Long tubular white, pinkish, or sometimes cream flowers, viscid-glandular outside.
[FWTA]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
tabaco, tabaco calzao, tabaco cuba, tabaco de puntas, tabaco frenteloro, tabaco habano, tabaco negrolindo, tabaco puntalargo
[UNAL]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Nativa y cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 100 - 2600 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Orinoquia, Valle del Cauca.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba, liana
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

Solanaceae, Jennifer M Edmonds. Oliganthes, Melongena & Monodolichopus, Maria S. Vorontsova & Sandra Knapp. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Type
Type: “in America, nota Europaeis ab 1560”, Herb. Linn. 245.1 (LINN!, lecto. designated by Setchell in Univ. Calif. Publ., Bot., 5: 6 (1912)) [See also Jarvis, Order out of Chaos: 694 (2007)]
Morphology General Habit
Annual or short-lived perennial herb to 3 m.
Morphology Stem
Stems sometimes basally woody, erect, sparsely branched; all parts conspicuously viscid-villous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves spatulate, lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, 8–50 × 2.8–21 cm, upper leaves smaller, bases decurrent, sessile or with short winged petiole up to 5 cm long, often auriculate, apices acute to narrowly acuminate, viscid-glandular on both surfaces
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal muchbranched panicles up to 25 cm long; flowers fragrant; pedicels densely viscid-pilose, 0.5–2 cm long in flower, up to 2.8 cm long in fruit, always erect; bracts linearlanceolate to ligulate, densely viscid-pubescent; calyx tubular to narrowly campanulate, 10–22 × 3–9 mm, viscid-pubescent externally, lobes unequal, narrowly triangular, 5–11 × 1.5–4 mm, acute to subulate-acuminate, enlarging in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white or pink fading to white, often tube greenish and lobes pink to reddish, tubular below, ampliate becoming infundibuliform above, overall 3.6–5 × 1.1–2.8 cm diameter apically; tube 2.8–4.2 × 1.5–4 mm wide basally increasing to 5–9 mm below lobes, viscid-pilose externally, glabrous internally; lobes usually shallow broadly triangular, 1.5–5 × 2.3–10 mm, acuminate, spreading after anthesis
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens unequal, the fifth often shorter; filaments two longer pairs free for 2.4–4.2 cm, shorter free for 2–3.5 cm; anthers 2–3(–3.6) × 1–2 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary elliptic to conical, ?dark brown, 5–8 × 2–5 mm; disc crenulate, 2–5 mm diameter; style 3–3.8 cm long; stigma 0.7–1.5 × 1–2 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules glabrous, brown, elliptic or ovoid, 1.3–2.2 × 0.8–1.5 cm, with apical beak, dehiscing by four glabrous smooth valves, wholly or partially covered by accrescent calyces
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ellipsoid, ovoid, globose, angular or discoid, 0.3–0.8(–1) × 0.2–0.5(–0.7) mm
Figures
Fig 3/1–8, p 22
Ecology
Cultivated, escaped and locally naturalised in woods and dry evergreen forest, bushland, on roadsides and along streams; 800–2600 m
Conservation
Widespread; least concern (LC)
Note
Known throughout the world as the common tobacco, N. tabacum is widely cultivated for its stimulatory effect, with many cultivars also being grown as ornamentals for their varying flower colours and strong evening fragrances. It is a highly polymorphic species now composed of a large number of cultivar forms used in modern tobaccos. Many more synonyms of this species are given in Goodspeed (1954) and Mansfeld (2001), who both summarise its amphidiploid origin from N. sylvestris Speg. & Comes and N. tomentosiformis Goodspeed. Plants were cultivated and the leaves already used for chewing and smoking in Mexico, C America, Venezuela, Colombia and Guyana before the Americas were discovered. It is now the most important commercial tobacco species, widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics and some temperate zones, with the largest cultivation area encompassing China, India, Brazil, the former Soviet Union and the USA. Nicotine content is lower than in N. rustica; edible oils have recently been extracted from its seeds (Mansfeld, 2001). Among the many described varieties of this species are nine by Dunal (1852) and two in the Congo by Durand & Durand (1909), though none of these varietal names have been encountered on East African material. Williams (in U.O.P.Z., 1949) listed N. plumbaginifolia as occurring in Pemba and Zanzibar. The discriminatory characters given do not accurately reflect those given by Goodspeed (1954) for this species, with many being similar to those exhibited by N. alata. It is probable that the specimens were mis-identified. Said to be cultivated in Uganda in F.P.U.: 129, but no specimens have been seen.
Distribution
Flora districts: U (see note); K1 K3 K4 K5 K6 T2 T3 T4 T5 Z Range: Probably originated in NW Argentina, naturalised throughout Africa and Indian Ocean islands
[FTEA]

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Type
Type from America: Linnean specimen 245.1 (LINN, lectotype, IDC microfiche neg. 136.I.6!), fide D'Arcy, loc. cit. (1974).
Morphology General Habit
Annual to short-lived perennial herb (0.5)0.6–1. 5 m tall (elsewhere said to reach 3 m), somewhat bushy below, somewhat viscid, shortly glandular-pubescent Annual to short-lived perennial herb (0.5)0.6–1.5 m tall (elsewhere said to reach 3 m), somewhat bushy below, somewhat viscid, shortly glandular-pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels (2)5–17 mm long, slender, later markedly thickened distally and 10–20 mm long, ± erect in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 3–7 × 2–3.5 mm, conic or ovoid, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 2.5–6 mm long, straight, glabrous
Ecology
Riversides and riverbeds, anthills, in old cultivated ground and waste places; up to 1460 m.
Note
Common name: “Tobacco” or “American Tobacco”. Cultivated since antiquity for the cured leaf which is smoked. Nowadays also cultivated as a source of nicotine and medicinal products, and as a garden ornamental; now locally naturalized. Chromosome number: 2n=48
Distribution
Throughout Africa from Libya and Egypt southwards to South Africa and from Canary and Cape Verde Islands eastwards to Aldabra and Comoro Islands. Zambia Native to tropical South America (probably from NW Argentina and Bolivia), now extending from the United States southwards throughout Central America and the Antilles to Chile and Argentina. Malawi ZAM N, ZIM C, MAL C, MAL S, MOZ N, MOZ GI, MOZ M Mozambique Zimbabwe
Morphology Branches
Branches herbaceous, ± terete. Branches herbaceous, ± terete
Morphology Leaves
Leaves green or brownish, not glaucous, puberulent to ± hairy and viscid on both sides; lamina of stem leaves basally narrowed into a winged petiole and expanded to resemble 2 leafy stipules, the petiole and its foliose wings decurrent on the stem; lower leaves often in a sparse rosette, up to 50 × 26 cm (elsewhere said to reach 150 cm in length), obovate or spathulate to elliptic or ovate, occasionally lanceolate, apex obtuse to acute; upper ones solitary, with lamina (3.5)5–21.5(39.5) × (1)1.5–8(17) cm, narrowly lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, occasionally obovate, apex long-acuminate to acute, entire or sometimes undulate. Leaves green or brownish, not glaucous, puberulent to ± hairy and viscid on both sides; lamina of stem leaves basally narrowed into a winged petiole and expanded to resemble 2 leafy stipules, the petiole and its foliose wings decurrent on the stem; lower leaves often in a sparse rosette, up to 50 × 26 cm (elsewhere said to reach 150 cm in length), obovate or spathulate to elliptic or ovate, occasionally lanceolate, apex obtuse to acute; upper ones solitary, with lamina (3.5)5–21. 5(39.5) × (1)1. 5–8(17) cm, narrowly lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, occasionally obovate, apex long-acuminate to acute, entire or sometimes undulate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers often many, erect to nodding, in broad, loose, flat, sometimes rounded at the top, several–much-branched, spreading, glandular-pubescent, paniculiform inflorescences up to 23 cm long, terminal and axillary; bracts foliaceous, clasping; bracteoles small, linear to foliaceous, often ephemeral; pedicels (2)5–17 mm long, slender, later markedly thickened distally and 10–20 mm long, ± erect in fruit. Flowers often many, erect to nodding, in broad, loose, flat, sometimes rounded at the top, several–much-branched, spreading, glandular-pubescent, paniculiform inflorescences up to 23 cm long, terminal and axillary; bracts foliaceous, clasping; bracteoles small, linear to foliaceous, often ephemeral.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 8–25 × 3.5–8 mm, tubular or tubular-campanulate, viscid, glandular and shortly hairy; lobes unequal to equal, 2.5–13 × 1.5–5 mm, triangular to narrowly lanceolate or subulate-acicular, acute to long-acuminate, somewhat ciliate; in fruit somewhat enlarged to 25 × 15 mm and enclosing it or not. Calyx 8–25 × 3.5–8 mm, tubular or tubular-campanulate, viscid, glandular and shortly hairy; lobes unequal to equal, 2.5–13 × 1. 5–5 mm, triangular to narrowly lanceolate or subulate-acicular, acute to long-acuminate, somewhat ciliate; in fruit somewhat enlarged to 25 × 15 mm and enclosing it or not
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla pale greenish to white, sometimes pink to red in upper half or pinkish only at the margins of the lobes, 3–8 cm long, tubular-infundibuliform to salviform; tube straight or scarcely curved, dilated in upper part, 3–9 mm wide distally, not or very slightly constricted under the limb, viscid, puberulent outside; limb 3–10(12) mm long, (8)10–25(30) mm across, lobed to subentire; lobes 3–10 × 3–10 mm, broadly triangular to ovate, acuminate to acute or obtuse-apiculate, ± spreading. Corolla pale greenish to white, sometimes pink to red in upper half or pinkish only at the margins of the lobes, 3–8 cm long, tubular-infundibuliform to salviform; tube straight or scarcely curved, dilated in upper part, 3–9 mm wide distally, not or very slightly constricted under the limb, viscid, puberulent outside; limb 3–10(12) mm long, (8)10–25(30) mm across, lobed to subentire; lobes 3–10 × 3–10 mm, broadly triangular to ovate, acuminate to acute or obtuse-apiculate, ± spreading
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens unequal, one somewhat shorter than the other 4, usually included, sometimes slightly exserted; filaments (1)2–3.5 cm long, attached at or near the base of the corolla dilation, shortly hairy at the base and on the decurrent ridges, sometimes to near the apex, erect; anthers 2–3 × 1–1.5 mm. Stamens unequal, one somewhat shorter than the other 4, usually included, sometimes slightly exserted; filaments (1)2–3.5 cm long, attached at or near the base of the corolla dilation, shortly hairy at the base and on the decurrent ridges, sometimes to near the apex, erect; anthers 2–3 × 1–1. 5 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk to c. 0.8 mm high, thick, coalescent to the basal part of the ovary, deeply lobed. Disk to c.  0.8 mm high, thick, coalescent to the basal part of the ovary, deeply lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 3–7 × 2–3.5 mm, conic or ovoid, glabrous; style 2.5–6 mm long, straight, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit ± erect, brownish, 10–20 × 7–15 mm, narrowly ellipsoid, ovoid or globose, with a short apical beak, thin-walled, glabrous, splitting above into 2 valves by septicidal slits, each one later 2-fid. Fruit ± erect, brownish, 10–20 × 7–15 mm, narrowly ellipsoid, ovoid or globose, with a short apical beak, thin-walled, glabrous, splitting above into 2 valves by septicidal slits, each one later 2-fid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds brown, 0.7–0.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm, globose or ellipsoid, wrinkled. Seeds brown, 0.7–0.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm, globose or ellipsoid, wrinkled
Cytology
Chromosome number: 2n=48.
[FZ]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Uses

Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Invertebrate Food
Used as invertebrate food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Poisons
Poisons.
Use Social
Social uses.
[UPFC]

Common Names

English
Tobacco

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Living Collection Database

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images
  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0