SOLANACEAE TOBACCO 729 



According to Zalackas, eserin and strychnin are not antagonistic to nicotin 

 but the juice of Nasturtium officinale counteracts it. 



Nicotiana rustica L. Wild Tobacco 



Annual, with obovate, petioled leaves; flowers greenish-yellow, panicled, 

 longer than the calyx; capsule globose. 



Distribution. In fields and waste places from Canada to Florida, and 

 Minnesota. Cultivated by the Indians. 



Poisonous properties. Probably the same as those of the preceding species. 



Nicotiana alata Link & Otto 



An annual, pubescent plant from 3-4 feet high; leaves lanceolate, 

 flowers large tubular; tube 5-6 inches long; the limb deeply 5-cleft. 



Distribution. Native to Brazil but a frequent escape in gardens in the east. 



Nicotiana quadrivalvis Pursh. Wild Tobacco 



An annual 1 or more feet high, leaves oblong or the upper lanceolate and 

 the lower obovate lanceolate, acute at both ends; flowers few; corolla white, 

 tubular funnel-form; tube 1 inch long. 



Distribution. Oregon to the plains. Often cultivated by the Indians for 

 tobacco. The allied species, A r . attenuata, Torr., is found from Colorado to 

 Nevada and California. 



Poisonous properties. The poisonous properties are probably the same as 

 those of common tobacco. According to Maiden the A r . snavcolens is poisonous 

 to stock in New South Wales. 



6. Datura L. Thorn Apple. Jimson Weed 



Rank-scented, tall, narcotic herbs; or a few tropical shrubs or trees with 

 alternate petioled leaves; large flowers; calyx 5-cleft; corolla funnelform, 

 5-Iobed, the limb plaited ; stamens generally included, inserted at or below the 

 middle of the corolla tube; ovary 2-celled, forming a capsule which is globular 

 and prickly. 



A small genus of about 12 species of wide distribution, 2 being cosmopol- 

 itan weeds. Several of the species are used for ornamental purposes. Among 

 these are the common white-flowered thorn apple (Datura Metcl) which is 

 native to tropical America, also the Datura meteloides, native to New Mexico 

 and cultivated for its large sweet-scented flowers. Several tropical American 

 tree-like shrubs like Datura suaveolcns are often cultivated in conservatories. 

 The seeds of D. fastuosa are used in India as a poison according to Gimlette, 

 and are commonly used on the Malay Peninsula. The D. alba is common in 

 India, about Madras, and D. airox occurs on the coast of Malabar. The 

 Daturas are all important in India from the point of view of poisoning. The 

 seeds of D. alba are often mistaken and eaten for the seeds of Capsicum. 



Datura Tatula L. Purple Thorn-apple or Purple Stramonium 

 A glabrous annual from a few inches to 5 feet high; stem purplish; leaves 

 thin, ovate, acute or acuminate ; flowers consisting of a S-toothed calyx and a 

 5-lobed funnel-form corolla, with stamens included; filiform filaments inserted 

 below the middle of the corolla tube ; capsule globular, prickly, 4-valved and 

 2-celled. 



Distribution. Abundant in fields and waste places from New England to 



