mahorka

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Aztec tobacco
• wild tobacco
• Indian tabacco
• native tobacco
• nicotine tobacco
• small tobacco

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nicotiana asiatica
• Nicotiana tatarica
• Nicotiana rustica var. brasilia
• Nicotiana rustica var. latissima
• Nicotiana rustica var. major
• Nicotiana pavonii var. rotundifolia
• Nicotiana rustica var. minor
• Nicotiana rustica var. pavonii
• Nicotiana rustica var. texana
• Nicotiana turcica
• Nicotiana texana
• Nicotia rustica
• Nicotiana andicola
• Nicotiana sibirica
• Nicotiana scabra
• Nicotiana pumila
• Nicotiana rugosa
• Nicotiana pavonii
• Nicotiana rustica var. asiatica
• Nicotiana rustica var. pumila
• Nicotiana rustica var. humilis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Solanales, and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Nicotiana, specifically identified as Nicotiana rustica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in both Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence extends into Middle Europe, where it is documented in Austria and Belgium. Additionally, the species is located within the Czechia-Slovakia region. Together, these locations define the known range for Nicotiana rustica in these territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nicotiana rustica is characterized by its presence in lowland habitats, where it thrives within specific altitudinal parameters. This species occupies a broad vertical niche, spanning an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1750 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 4000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1750 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Nicotiana rustica is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from seed germination to flowering and subsequent seed production—within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the species survives the unfavorable periods of its environment through the production of hardy seeds, which remain dormant until conditions are optimal for growth. This strategy allows the plant to rapidly exploit available resources during its brief existence, focusing its energy on vigorous vegetative growth and prolific flowering before ultimately dying at the end of its reproductive cycle.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Nicotiana rustica is characterized by its growth form as a woody herb or forb, typically existing as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.09625 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.09625 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nicotiana rustica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate and subtropical species. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the soil, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its metabolic efficiency, with an average leaf size of 81.28 cm² and an average Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 180.2 cm²/g. The leaves exhibit an ovate form, with dimensions that vary significantly: the mean leaf length is 20 cm (ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 30 cm), while the mean leaf width is 11 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 15 cm).

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length mean:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

81.28 cm²

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

11 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

180.2 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nicotiana rustica is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects such as butterflies. The flowering period typically begins in July and extends through September. During this phase, the plant produces green flowers that vary in size, with lengths ranging from 1.4 cm to 2.2 cm and widths between 0.2 cm and 0.4 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit. These capsules exhibit dimensions with a length ranging from 0.7 cm to 1.6 cm (averaging 1.3 cm) and a width ranging from 0.7 cm to 1.4 cm. The fruit is dehiscence-based, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds are uniform in size, measuring consistently at approximately 1 mm in length. The dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, though there is also evidence of anthropochorous dispersal, indicating that human activity may play a role in the movement of the species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

2.2 cm

Flower length min:

1.4 cm

Flower width max:

0.4 cm

Flower width min:

0.2 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

1.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

butterfly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Nicotiana rustica has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anabasine, Flavonoids, Phenols, Phytosterol, Saponins.

Anabasine

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Insects

Phenols

1. Insects

Phytosterol

1. Insects

Saponins

1. Insects

nicotine

1. Dr. Duke

nornicotine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Nicotiana rustica has 26 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ANS-Paralytic, ANS-Stimulant, Addictive, Analgesic, Anorectic.

ANS-Paralytic

1. Dr. Duke

ANS-Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke

Addictive

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anorectic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiestrogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antifumitory

1. Dr. Duke

Antismoking

1. Dr. Duke

Cardiovascular

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Nicotiana rustica has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Tomato spotted wilt virus, gout, respiratory system.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations