93 Ntcotiana rustica.
dull yellowish-green colour, covered with the same kind of soft semi-
viscous pubescence as the stem, and situated on petioles from one
to two inches long. Mid-rib conspicuously yellow, veins strongly
marked. Flowers axillary and terminal, numerous, about an inch
long. Calix consisting of five segments, unequal in length ; two
smaller than the other three: and of the latter one much larger
than the other two—all ovate, sub-acute, pubescent. Corolla sulphur
yellow, tube and under surface of the limb pubescent—limb
expanding and glabrous. Tube bell-shaped, segments rounded. Stamen
sulphur-yellow, tipped with triangular grey anthers. Base of
the filament bearded with fine fringe. Germ ovate, glabrous. Style
as long as the stamens. Stigma globose. Capsule roundish, a little
depressed. Seeds small, nearly black, numerous. Every part of
the plant, as well as the stem and leaves, downy, clammy, and exhaling
the same peculiar unpleasant smell common to the genus. “ Naturalized
near the borders of some of the smaller lakes in the western
parts of the state of New York.” NuttaU. Flowering in July.
The genus which furnishes the narcotic luxury so universally used
in many parts of the world, consists of thirteen species, and bears
a name in honour of John Nicot, of Nismes, an ambassador from the
French court to that of Portugal. During his residence in Lisbon
in 1560, he received some seeds of the plant now known by the
name of Virginia tobacco, from a Dutchman, who had obtained them
from Florida about the same time the Spaniards received it from
Kicotiana rustica. 93
Tobaco, a province of Yucatan, which has given the common name.
They were distributed from this source, throughout Europe, and
hence the introduction of Tobacco as an article of luxury. The
present species furnishes the common tobacco, or common-green tobacco,
and the seeds of it are supposed to have been received in
Europe from America, about the same time that those of N. tabacum,
or Virginia tobacco, were sent. America has been referred to as the
native country of the tobacco, by most writers ; but Savary declares
that the Persians received it from Egypt four hundred years ago,
and have during all this time cultivated it. Whatever be the truth
of this obscure question, there can be no doubt that the present species,
as well as the N. tabacum, has long been naturalized in this
country; and hence it becomes proper to figure it in a Flora of
North America.
Fig. l. A specimen in flower of N. rustica.
8. A flower, separated.
3. A stamen.
4. Calix, germ, and pistil.
(All the size of nature.)