NAT. O ii D E 11 . 
Luridce. 
NICOTIANA TABACUM. YIRGINIAN 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 temperate zones 
of the Western Continent. The 7'oot is large and fibrous, sending 
up an erect, branching stalk, four or five feet in height, round and 
hairy ; the leaves are numerous, large, alternate, oblong, pointed, 
entire, sessile, slightly decurrent, of a pale green color, with a 
strong midrib : the hractea are strong, linear and pointed ; the 
Uowers are in large terminal panicles ; the calyx 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 ; the filaments 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.— 1^. 
