Nile region, Oases, Mediterranean region, Eastern desert and Sinai.
Native to Argentina, naturalized in warm regions.
Nicotiana glauca,commonly referred to as wild tobacco or tree tabacco, can be described as a small shrub that stands about 5 m tall (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer, Zevin, 2011; 47). The leaves ofN. glaucaare large, alternate, ovate, and colored blue-green (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer & Zevin, 2011; 47). The shrub gets its name from the color of its leaves, stemming from the Greek wordglaucameaning bluish-gray (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer & Zevin, 2011; 47). Nicotiana glauca, tree tobacco, is a flowering plant belonging to the potato family (Natureserve 2014). The flowers are tubular and yellow with lengths ranging from 32 to 42 mm (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 88).
Nicotinana glauca is native to South America in Bolivia and Argentina (Tadmor-Melamed, Markman, Arieli, Distl, Wink & Izhaki 2004: 845). It is not native to the United States but has found to be an invasive species in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Nevada (NatureServe, 2014). Nicotiana glauca has also been found in Peru, Israel, Tenerife, Greece, South Africa, and Australia (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 87).
It mainly thrives in dry semi-arid locations such as quarries, dry riverbanks and along roadsides (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 86-87). In South Africa and South America, the plant is seen growing alongside roads, in cattle fields, and is a common weed along rivers (Botha, Steenkamp, Oliver & Bekker, 2011: 2). N. glaucais a wide spread plant that can be found growing in warm dry climates with low elevation (Plumlee, Holstege, Blanchard, Fiser & Galey, 1993: 498).
The high amount of nectar found in Nicotiana glauca attracts pollinators and nectar robbers. Mean nectar concentration can be from 20-44% (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 92). In South America the hummingbird Chlorostilbom aureoventri is can be both a pollinator and nectar robber (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 89). In South Africa three species of sunbirds act as pollinators the Makachite Sunbird (Nectarina famosa), the Dusky Sunbird (Cinnyrus fuscus), and the Southern Double Colored Sunbird (Cinnyrus Chalybea) (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 89). In introduced areas where no birds are present, self pollinations have occurred prior to larger populations of Nicotiana glauca that attract birds to the area (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 92).
Mean population fruit set per plant of Nicotiana glauca ranges from about 28% to 75% (Ollerton,J., Watts, S., Connerty, S., Lock, J., Wilson, I., Schueller, S., Nattero, J., Cocucci, A. A., Izhaki, I., Geerts, S., Pauw, A., Stout, J.C. 2012: 86). The seed viability of 86-93% may be correlated with plant density (Ollerton, Watts, Connerty, Lock, Wilson, Schueller, Nattero, Cocucci, Izhaki, Geerts, Pauw & Stout, 2012: 87 and 89).
Nicotiana glaucais characterized by the presence of pyridine alkaloids in the leaves and root tissues of the plant.N. glaucacontains anabasine and nicotine, which can be deadly if ingested in large amounts (Botha, Steenkamp, Oliver, Bekker, 2011; 116). In a study of Palastine sunbirds (Nectarinia osea) it was found that the birds were deterred by nicotine concentrations of (0-5ppm) and anabasine (5 ppm) found in the plant (Tadmor-Melamed, Markman, Arieli, Distl, Wink & Izhaki 2004: 848). Birds did not consume high alkaloid concentrations if present in concentrations of 77-88% but tolerated low concentrations (Tadmor-Melamed, Markman, Arieli, Distl, Wink & Izhaki 2004: 847).
Although both anabasine and nicotine are dangerous, the main cause of death due to the ingestion ofN. glaucais caused by the alkaloid anabasine (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer, & Zevin, 2011; 48). Anabasine causes a greater depression of respiration and blood pressure than that of the ingestion of nicotine (Plumlee, Holstege, Blanchard, Fiser & Galey, 1993: 499).In roughly 15 minutes after the ingestion of Anabasine, signs of the toxin begin to appear and the animal infected starts to experience weakness, ataxia, tremors, and collapse (Plumlee, Holstege, Blanchard, Fiser & Galey, 1993: 499).Anabasine binds to nicotonic binding sites and inhibits acetylcholinesterase (Plumlee, Holstege, Blanchard, Fiser & Galey, 1993: 499).This happens at the neuromuscular junction and autonomic ganglia within the brain causing a blockade (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer, & Zevin, 48). This neuromuscular blockade prohibits respiratory signals to be sent to the brain, thus causing a prolonged blocking (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer, & Zevin, 2011: 48). This prolonged blocking causes a strong stimulation of the Central Nervous System and thisstimulationcauses total paralysis of skeletal muscles and directly contributes to the tremors and convulsions seen in most cases of anabasine poisoning (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer, & Zevin; 49). The cause of death is respiratory paralysis (Botha, Steenkamp, Oliver & Bekker, 2011: 116).
Anabasine toxicosis has been reported in humans, pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats (Plumlee, Holstege, Blanchard, Fiser & Galey, 1993: 499). Anabasine can not only be fatal but can effect development of animals within the womb (Plumlee, Holstege, Blanchard, Fiser & Galey, 1993: 499).One case of anabasine poisoning was seen in a flock of Ostriches in South Africa (Botha, Steenkamp, Oliver & Bekker, 2011: 1). The Ostriches started experiencing muscle weakness to a point where they couldn’t stand up nor hold their head up right (Botha, Steenkamp, Oliver & Bekker, 2011: 116). They began to have body tremors and involuntary muscle spasms followed by respiratory failure (Botha, Steenkamp, Oliver & Bekker, 2011: 116).
Some people use this plant as ornamental purposes in their gardens (Botha, Steenkamp, Oliver & Bekker, 2011: 116). Navajo Indians smoked this plant for ritual purposes and in places like Arizona, California, Texas, Mexico, Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and in the Mediterranean,N. glaucais also smoked (Furer, Hersch, Silvetzki, Breuer & Zevin, 2011: 47).
Nicotiana glauca is a species of flowering plant in the tobacco genus Nicotiana of the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is known by the common name tree tobacco. Its leaves are attached to the stalk by petioles (many other Nicotiana species have sessile leaves), and its leaves and stems are neither pubescent nor sticky like Nicotiana tabacum. It resembles Cestrum parqui but differs in the form of leaves and fusion of the outer floral parts. It grows to heights of more than two meters.
Tree tobacco is native to South America but it is now widespread as an introduced species on other continents. It is a common roadside weed in the southwestern United States, and an invasive plant species in California native plant habitats.
Nicotiana glauca is a small tree or shrub with many branches that normally grows to over 2 m, but can reach as high as 7 m. Its leaves are thick and rubbery and can be up to 20 cm long. It has yellow tubular flowers about 5 cm long and 1 cm wide. The plant primarily reproduces by seed.[2]
Nicotiana glauca can pose a threat to native species by outcompeting them for resources and is classified as an invasive species in many parts of the world. In some management programmes, the beetle Malabris aculeata has been successfully deployed as a biological control agent. Every part of the plant is potentially poisonous to humans and livestock.[2]
It is originally native to South America (including Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador),[1] but has been naturalized globally. It is found in Australia, warmer parts of Europe, temperate Asia, Canarian Archipelago, New Zealand, the United States, Mexico, Hawaii, and Sub-Saharan Africa (including Kenya and Tanzania, where it is invasive, as well as Uganda).[2]
It grows in a wide variety of open and disturbed habitats including lakeshores and roadsides, but is mainly a problem in relatively dry areas.[2]
The plant is commonly known in English as tree tobacco, Brazilian tree tobacco, shrub tobacco, wild tobacco, tobacco tree, tobacco bush, tobacco plant, and mustard tree.[2]
In Spanish and throughout Latin America, it is known by many names including: tabaco moro ("Moorish tobacco"),[1] palancho, and palán palán.[3]
Its botanical name, Nicotiana glauca, was given to it in 1828 by Robert Graham.[1][4] The genus is named after Jean Nicot (c.1530-1600), a French ambassador to Portugal, who sent tobacco seeds and powdered leaves from Lisbon to France.[5]
There are around 76 species in the Nicotiana genus,[1] the sole member of the Nicotianeae tribe. Phylogenetic research suggests the following species are closely related:[6]
N. acaulis Speg.
N. glauca Graham
N. noctiflora Hook.
N. petunioides (Griseb.) Millán
The plant is used for a variety of medicinal purposes and smoked by Native American groups.[7] The Cahuilla people used leaves interchangeably with other tobacco species in hunting rituals and as a poultice to treat swellings, bruises, cuts, wounds, boils, sores, inflamed throat, and swollen glands. It contains the toxic alkaloid anabasine and ingestion of the leaves can be fatal.[8] It is being investigated for use as a biofuel.[9]
Nicotiana glauca is a species of flowering plant in the tobacco genus Nicotiana of the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is known by the common name tree tobacco. Its leaves are attached to the stalk by petioles (many other Nicotiana species have sessile leaves), and its leaves and stems are neither pubescent nor sticky like Nicotiana tabacum. It resembles Cestrum parqui but differs in the form of leaves and fusion of the outer floral parts. It grows to heights of more than two meters.
Tree tobacco is native to South America but it is now widespread as an introduced species on other continents. It is a common roadside weed in the southwestern United States, and an invasive plant species in California native plant habitats.
