X967.
Wild Tabacco Nicotiana glauca (Wildetabak)
Order: Solanales. Family: Solanaceae
© Toko
© Toko
© Toko
Richtersveld National Park
Description
It is an evergreen perennial, glabrous soft-wooded shrub or small tree, up to 6 m tall,with stems that are laxly branched. The leaves are stalked, alternate, elliptical to lanceolate or oval, pointed, bluish or greyish-green. The flowers are greenish-yellow, 30 to 40 mm long, many are borne in a lax panicle. The corolla is tubular with a short-lobed limb. Brown, four-valved fruit capsules contain tiny seeds. The fruit is an egg-shaped, two-valved capsule, 7 to 10 mm long and slightly longer than the persistent papery calyx. It produces a large quantity of tiny seeds, which can be dispersed by wind and water.
All plant parts are extremely poisonous.
Distribution
Tree tobacco is native to South America but it is now widespread as an introduced species on other continents. Found in all provinces of South Africa. A declared Category 1 invader plant in South Africa (NEMBA – Category 1b).
Habitat
Coastland, grasslands, disturbed shrublands. It is widespread throughout South Africa in places where the natural vegetation has been disturbed, such as roadsides and riverbanks. It can form dense and extensive stands along watercourses after flooding; this is of particular concern in conservation areas such as the Kruger National Park.
© arks
© arks
Mapungubwe National Park