Nicotiana rustica
| Nicotiana rustica | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 5' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Nicotiana rustica (common name: wild tobacco)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow in a warm greenhouse about 10 weeks before the last expected spring frosts. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 20 days at 20°c. Keep the soil moist and pot up as soon as the plants are big enough to handle, planting them out after the last expected frosts.
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained deep rich moist soil in a sunny position[1][2].
This plant was formerly cultivated for its use as an insecticide but it has now been largely replaced by N. tabacum[3][4][2].
Plants require more than 14 hours daylight per day in order to induce flowering[5].
Range: S. America - Ecuador to Bolivia.
Habitat: The original habitat is obscure. Plants are naturalized in Eastern N. America where they grow in waste places, open areas etc[6].
Medicinal: All parts of the plant contain nicotine which is a strong narcotic[6].
The leaves are antispasmodic, cathartic, emetic, narcotic and sedative[7][8]. They are used externally as a poultice and a wash in the treatment of rheumatic swelling, skin diseases and scorpion stings[7].
Usage: All parts of the plant contain nicotine, this has been extracted and used as an insecticide. The dried leaves can also be used, they remain effective for 6 months after drying[5].
The leaves have also been dried and then chewed as a stimulant or made into snuff for sniffing, or smoked. This species is more potent than N. tabacum (the species normally cultivated for cigarettes).
Pollinators: Lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: All parts of the plant are poisonous[2].
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Buchanan, Rita. A Weavers Garden.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Emboden, William. Narcotic Plants. Studio Vista, 1979.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.