ISnGHTSHADE FAMILY. 



259 



Root annual. Stem 2-5 feet high, rather stout, terete, pale yellowish-green (dark 

 purple in var. Tatula), sniooth. Leaves 4-6 or 8 inches long, sinuate or somewhat angu- 

 lar-dentate ; petioles 1-3 or 4 inches in length. CaZi/a; prominently 5-augled, nearly 

 half as long as the corolla. Corolla ochroleucous (pale violet purple in var. Tatula), about 

 3 inches long ; cajjsule about an inch in diamter. 



AYast^' places, larm-yarus, road-sides, &c. i^L July -August. i^V. September. 



Obs. A native of Asia or tropical America. Botli varieties, the one 

 with green and the other with purple stems, are very common. The 

 herb and seeds are powerful narcotic poisons. They are used medici- 

 nally, and the dried root is sometimes smoked as a remedy for asthma. 

 Both varieties are coarse unsightly weeds, and should be carefully extir- 

 pated by the farmer. 



8. NICOTIA'NA, L. Tobacco. 



[Xamed in compliment to John Nicot ; who introduced it into Franco.] 



Calyx tubular-campanulate, persistent. Corolla funnel-form, — the limb 

 spreading, plicately 5-lobed. Stamens included. Style simple ; stigma 

 capitate. Capsule covered by the calyx, septicidally 2-valved at apex, 

 the valves finally bifid, retaining separate placenta. Seeds very nume- 

 rous, minute. 



1. N. Tabac'um, L. Leaves large, lance- 

 ovate, sessile, decurrent ; lobes of the corol- 

 la acuminate, the throat inflated. 



Tobacco Nicotian a. Tobacco. 



Fr. Le Tabac. Germ. Der Taback. Span. 

 Tabaco. 



Whole plant viscid-pubescent. Root annual. Stem 

 4-6 feet high, stout, finally almost woody at base, 

 paniculately branched above. Leaves 1-2 feet long, 

 smaller as they ascend. Calyx about one third the 

 length of the corolla, ventricose, the segments lanceo- 

 late erect. Corolla, about 2 inches long; limb rose-colored, 

 spreading ; tube pale yellowish-green. Capsule ovoid, 

 sulcate on each side. .Seeds reniform, rugose. 



Fields : cultivated extensively in the Southern and 

 Western States. Native of the warmer regions of 

 America. Known to Europeans about the year 1560. 

 Fl. July -August. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. The extent to which this nauseous 

 and powerfully narcotic plant is cultivated, 

 its commercial importance, and the modes in 

 which it is employed to gratify the senses, constitute, altogether, one of 

 the most remarkable traits in the history of civilized man. Were we 

 not so practically familiar with the business, we should doubtless be dis- 



FiG. 167. Flowers of Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum). 



