NAT. O U D E K 



Luridce. 



> 



NICOTIANA TABACUM. VIRGINIAN TOBACCO 



Class V. Pentandria. Order 1 Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Corolla, funnel-shaped, with a plaited border. Sta- 



mens, inclined. Capsule, two-valved, two-celled. 

 Spe. Char. Leaves, ovate-lanceolate, sessile, decurrent. Flowers, 



acute. ■ 



The Tobacco is an annual plant, and a native of South Ame- 

 rica, but is now cultivated in most parts of the temjserate zones 

 of the Western Continent. The roof is large and fibrous, sending 

 up an erect, branching stalk, four or five feet in height, round and 

 haiiy ; the leaves arc numerous, large, alternate, oblong, pointed, 

 entire, sessile, slightly decurrent, of a pale green color, with a 

 .strong . midrib ; the bractece are strong, linear and pointed ; the 

 Jlowers are in large terminal panicles ; the caly.x is hairy, and 

 divided into five acute segments ; the corolla is monopetalous, fun- 

 nel-shaped, of a purplish rose color, with a tube twice the length 

 of the calyx, opening like a cup, and divided into five short, 

 pointed segments ; xh.e Jilaments are the length of the tube of the 

 corolla, and support oblong anthers; the germen is oval and sup- 

 ports a long, slender style, which terminates in a round, cleft 

 stigma ; the capsule is divided into two cells, which contain many 

 small, roundish seeds. It was first brought from the Island of 

 Tobago, about the year 1560, and from thence called tabacum ; 

 from Nicot, the name of the man who first took it to France. Sir 

 Francis Drake first introduced its use into England, and Sir Wal- 

 ter Raleigh rendered it fashionable. 



Vol ii.— 125. 



