Tobacco
Nicotiana tabacum
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 1-3 m high. The leaves are nearly all on the stem. The leaf blade is sword shaped or oval and gets smaller up the stem. They can be 50 cm long. They tend to clasp the stem. The flowers are bell shaped and white to pink.
There are 67 Nicotiana species. They are mostly from South America. Tobacco leaf protein is 99.5% protein.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Islands, Europe, India, Indochina, Korea, Laos, Macedonia, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South America, St Helena, Tajikistan, Tasmania, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
CAUTION: It is poisonous. Tobacco leaf protein is an odourless, tasteless white powder that can be added to cereal grains, vegetables, soft drinks and other foods. It can be whipped like egg white. Tobacco leaves are used to make alcoholic drinks and also chewed. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.
Edible parts
Leaves