| Nicotiana sylvestris | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Nicotiana |
| Species: | N. sylvestris |
| Binomial name | |
| Nicotiana sylvestris Speg. & Comes |
|
Nicotiana sylvestris is a species of wild tobacco known by the common names Woodland Tobacco and South American Tobacco. It is native to South America, and is often grown in gardens for its scented flowers. The scent is strongest at night, so as to attract pollinating moths. The leaves are simple, somewhat sticky, foul-smelling, with the blade partially surrounding the stem (clasping petiole). Flowers are tubular, white, borne in large clusters above the foliage. Flowers can be over 7 centimeters long with a face 2 centimeters wide. Each flower eventually produces a large quantity of small seeds.
This plant is thought to be one of the parents of Nicotiana tabacum, the plant used in modern tobacco production.[1]