FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



TOBACCO-PLANTS 



Natural Order Solanace^. Genus Nicotiana 



NicoTiANA (named in honour of Jean Nicot, 1530-1600, who introduced 

 Tobacco into France). A genus" of about forty species of greenhouse or 

 half-hardy herbs, and a few shrubs, with large, sticky leaves, the viscidity 

 being secreted by glandular hairs. The calyx is bell-shaped, five-lobed ; 

 corolla funnel- or salver -shaped, with a spreading five-lobed limb. 

 Stamens, five, attached to corolla - tube ; ovary two - celled ; style 

 simple; stigma button-shaped. Most of the species are natives of 

 America, but a few are found in the islands of the Pacific and in 

 Australasia. 



The history of Tobacco as smoking material, and its cul- 

 tivation for this purpose, is evidently prehistoric, for Colum- 

 bus found it in common use an\ong the natives of Cuba when he landed 

 there in 1492, and subsequent inquiries show that it has been cultivated 

 throughout America from periods of antiquity. But with that aspect 

 of the plant we have little concern. The first Tobacco-plants grown in 

 England are believed to have been planted in 1570. These were N. 

 Tabacum, a native of South America, and N. rusticum from Mexico. 

 Many species have been introduced since, but few have been used for 

 decorative purposes — the principal ones being described below. Several 

 of these described and grown as annuals are no doubt biennials or 

 perennials. 



princi ais eci NicoTiANA ACUTIFLORA (acute-flowered). Stem erect, 



" 1 to 2 feet high. Radical leaves oblong; stem -leaves 

 lance-shaped with stem-clasping, eared base. Flowers white, 2^ inches 

 across, with slender tube 4 inches long ; June to October. Annual. Native 

 of Brazil. 



N. ALBA (white). Stem stout, 3 or 4 feet high ; whole plant hairy. 

 Leaves oval or lance-shaped. Flowers white, greenish outside, 3 inches 

 across, tube a little longer; strongly and sweetly fragi-ant at night; 

 June. Will flower continuously for many months in the conservatory, 

 or until cut down by frost outside. Half-hardy biennial, better known 



N. GLAUCA (glaucous). Stem woody, erect, branched, 10 to 20 feet 

 high. Leaves smooth, heart-shaped, glaucous. Flowers yellow, the limb 

 small and cup-shaped, the tube curved; Aug-ust to October. Grown 

 more as a foliage plant. Introduced from Buenos Ayres, 1827. 



