Tree Tobacco

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Tree Tobacco
• glaucous-leaf tobacco
• tobacco-bush
• wild tobacco
• Coneton
• Mexican Tobacco
• Mustard Tree
• San Juan Tree
• Tabaka-Bume
• Tobacco Plant
• Tobacco Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nicotiana arborea
• Nicotidendron glauca
• Nicotiana glauca f. lateritia
• Nicotiana glauca var. angustifolia
• Nicotiana glauca var. decurrens
• Nicotiana glauca var. grandiflora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Solanales, it is a member of the Solanaceae family. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Nicotiana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the European continent. In Middle Europe, its presence can be specifically noted in Germany. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it is widely distributed throughout Southwestern Europe. Within this region, it inhabits several key areas including France, Portugal, and the island of Corse. Additionally, the species can be found in the Balearic Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nicotiana glauca is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and reaches elevations as high as 3000 m AMSL. This species frequently thrives within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), often colonizing disturbed soils, roadsides, and agricultural landscapes where human activity has altered the natural terrain. Its ability to persist across such a wide elevational range suggests a high degree of physiological plasticity, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches from lowland tropical zones to high-altitude temperate or montane regions.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Nicotiana glauca is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized within the phanerophyte life forms, maintaining its buds above the soil surface. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage to sustain metabolic processes across various environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nicotiana glauca is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, rather than as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 6 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 3.17 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

3.16666666666667 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nicotiana glauca is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure is defined by lanceolate leaf forms that exhibit significant morphological variation in size; typically, the leaves maintain a mean length of 15 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 25 cm) and a mean width of 2.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 8 cm). In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than symbiotic atmospheric fixation.

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

0.8 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nicotiana glauca is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects and specifically butterflies. The flowering process occurs within a panicle inflorescence, featuring yellow flowers that typically range in length from 2.5 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm. The flowering season is quite extensive, beginning as early as April and continuing through December. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 1 cm (ranging from 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm) and a mean width of approximately 0.7 cm to 1 cm. The fruit is dehisceant, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small and uniform, maintaining a consistent length of approximately 0.6 mm. In terms of weight, the seed mass is extremely minute, with a mean of 4.27e-05 g, ranging from a minimum of 3e-05 g to a maximum of 7e-05 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

4.5 cm

Flower length min:

2.5 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.8 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

butterfly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

0.6 mm

Seed mass max:

7e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

4.27e-05 g

Seed mass min:

3e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nicotiana glauca has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, stem.

Leaf

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Scientific reports

Flower

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Stem

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Chemicals

Nicotiana glauca has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anabasine, RUTIN, nicotine, palmitic acid, 9-OCTADECENAL.

Anabasine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Scientific reports

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

nicotine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

palmitic acid

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Scientific reports

9-OCTADECENAL

1. Scientific reports

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Scientific reports

Coumaric Acid

1. Scientific reports

ETHYL LINOLEATE

1. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Flavonoid

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Nicotiana glauca has 107 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, 5-HT-Inhibitor, ANS-Paralytic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Microvascular research

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ANS-Paralytic

1. Dr. Duke

ANS-Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke

Addictive

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Nicotiana glauca has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include E. coli, cancer, inflammation, jaundice, neoplasia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations