FLORA AND THALIA. 119 



TOBACCO. 



{JYicotiana Tabacum.) 



Tobacco is a native of America, and was first im- 

 ported into Europe about the middle of the sixteenth 

 century, by Herniandez de Toledo, who sent it to 

 Spain and Portugal. At that time the ambassador 

 of Francis II. resided at the court of Lisbon ; and 

 in the year 1560 he carried the tobacco into France 

 when it was presented to Catharine de Medicis, as a 

 plant from the New World, possessing extraordinary 

 virtues ; the ambassadors name was Nicot, from 

 whence it has taken the name Nicotiana. 



The tobacco is an annual plant, flowering in July 

 and August, and is now common in various parts of 

 the globe ; it is frequently used medicinally, although 

 proved to be a deleterious poison. The fume of it is 

 often applied to destroy the insects on plants in 

 greenhouses and conservatories, and also to keep 

 moths from woollen cloths and furs. 



Class, Pentanbria. Order, Monogtnia. 



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