92 Nicotiana rustica. 



dull yellowish-green colour, covered with the same kind of soft semi- 

 viscous pubescence as the stem, and situated on petioles from one 

 to two inches long. Mid-rib conspicuously yellow, veins strongly 

 marked. Flowers axillary and terminal, numerous, about an inch 

 long. Calix consisting of five segments, unequal in length ; two 

 smaller than the other three : and of the latter one much larger 

 than the other two — all ovate, sub-acute, pubescent. Corolla sul- 

 phur-yellow, tube and under surface of the limb pubescent — limb 

 expanding and glabrous. Tube bell-shaped, segments rounded. Sta- 

 men sulphur-yellow, tipped with triangular grey anthers. Base of 

 the filament bearded with fine fringe. Germ ovate, glabrous. Style 

 as long as the stamens. Stigma globose. Capsule roundish, a lit- 

 tle depressed. Seeds small, nearly black, numerous. Every part of 

 the plant, as well as the stem andleaves, downy, clammy, and exhaling 

 the same peculiar unpleasant smell common to the genus. " Natu- 

 ralized near the borders of some of the smaller lakes in the western 

 parts of the state of New York." Nuttall. Flowering in July. 



The genus which furnishes the narcotic luxury so universally used 

 in many parts of the world, consists of thirteen species, and bears 

 a name in honour of John Nicot, of Nismes, an ambassador from the 

 French court to that of Portugal. During his residence in Lisbon 

 in 1560, he received some seeds of the plant now known by the 

 name of Virginia tobacco, from a Dutchman, who had obtained them 

 from Florida about the same time the Spaniards received it from 



