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Nicotiana rustica - L.

Common Name Wild Tobacco, Aztec tobacco
Family Solanaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards All parts of the plant are poisonous[200].
Habitats The original habitat is obscure. Plants are naturalized in Eastern N. America where they grow in waste places, open areas etc[192].
Range S. America - Ecuador to Bolivia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Nicotiana rustica Wild Tobacco, Aztec tobacco


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Nicotiana rustica Wild Tobacco, Aztec tobacco
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Llez

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Nicotiana rustica is a ANNUAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Emetic  Narcotic  Sedative

All parts of the plant contain nicotine which is a strong narcotic[192]. The leaves are antispasmodic, cathartic, emetic, narcotic and sedative[240, 257]. They are used externally as a poultice and a wash in the treatment of rheumatic swelling, skin diseases and scorpion stings[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Insecticide

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[169]. 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). Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a well-drained deep rich moist soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. This plant was formerly cultivated for its use as an insecticide but it has now been largely replaced by N. tabacum[46, 50, 200]. Plants require more than 14 hours daylight per day in order to induce flowering[169].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Nicotiana alataTobacco, Jasmine tobacco, Nicotiana, Jasmine Tobacco, Ornamental Tobacco, Flowering TobaccoPerennial0.6 6-9 SLMHNM003
Nicotiana glaucaTree TobaccoShrub3.0 7-10  LMHNM123
Nicotiana tabacumTobacco, Cultivated tobaccoAnnual1.2 7-10  LMHNM223

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Dr. Naveen Kumar (Plant Pathology)   Thu Jul 20 2006

Nicotiana rustica is commercially grown in Gujarat state of India, and I consider that N. tabacum can not replace N. rustica under Indian conditions.

Badger Johnson   Tue Feb 19 2008

i love this plant so much that i take it into my lungs and let the smoke carry me up to God. if you like tobacco, do yourself a favor and seek out rustica

J. L. Hudson, Seedsman A PUBLIC ACCESS SEED BANK

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