Nicotiana
Nicotiana
Nicotiana (pronounced: nɪˌkoʊʃiˈeɪnə) is a genus of herbaceous plants and shrubs in the family Solanaceae, that is indigenous to the Americas, Australia, south west Africa and the South Pacific. Various Nicotiana species, commonly referred to as tobacco plants, are cultivated as ornamental garden plants. N. tabacum is grown worldwide for production of tobacco leaf for cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Etymology
The genus name Nicotiana is in honor of Jean Nicot, a French ambassador to Portugal, who in 1559 sent it as a medicine to the court of Catherine de Medici.
Species
There are 67 species in the genus. Some of the more common species include:
- Nicotiana tabacum (Common tobacco)
- Nicotiana rustica (Aztec tobacco)
- Nicotiana alata (Winged tobacco)
- Nicotiana sylvestris (Woodland tobacco)
- Nicotiana glauca (Tree tobacco)
Related Terms
- Solanaceae: The nightshade family of flowering plants, many of which are edible, while others are toxic.
- Tobacco: A product prepared from the leaves of the tobacco plant by curing them.
- Nicotine: A potent parasympathomimetic alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants and a stimulant drug.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nicotiana
- Wikipedia's article - Nicotiana
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