 Habit, Meekatharra area, WA. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Cue area, WA. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Foliage, pot grown plant. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Cue area, WA. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Corolla tube. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Hair type. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Distribution map generated from Australia's Virtual Herbarium, May 2006. |
Synonymy
Nicotiana cavicola N.T.Burb., Austral. J. Bot. 8: 354; fig. 7; t. 11, fig. 2 (1960)
T: Cultivated plant, 9 Feb. 1958, grown from sample T.S. 202, the original seed collected 7 miles E of Meekatharra, W.A., 11 Dec. 1955, N.T. Burbidge 4774; lecto: CANB 79168, fide P. Horton, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 3: 14 (1981).
Description
Herb to 90 cm, variably pubescent with glandular and non-glandular hairs.
Leaves mostly or all radical (cauline leaves occasionally numerous), elliptic, petiolate, the upper ones lanceolate to linear, almost sessile; lamina up to 12 (occasionally 25) cm long; petiole to 7 (sometimes to 14) cm long, narrowly winged.
Inflorescence panicle-like, few-branched; lower bracts leafy. Calyx 7–25 mm long. Corolla-tube 18–50 (usually 22–45) mm long, 1–3.5 mm wide at top of calyx; limb 10–40 mm diam., the lobes usually obtuse. Upper 4 anthers at the same level or nearly so, their filaments to 2.5 (occasionally to 5) mm long; 5th filament to 6.5 (occasionally to 14) mm long, usually inserted in upper half of corolla-tube.
Capsule ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 6–12 mm long. Seeds reniform; testa with wavy-edged honeycomb or irregular wrinkles. n=20, 23.
Distribution and ecology
Occurs in central-western W.A. usually associated with shaded sites on breakaways and rocky outcrops.
Notes
According to Pandey (1969) this species has flowers which are self-compatible.
Reference: Pandey, K. K. (1969) Elements of the S-gene complex V. Interspecific cross-compatibility relationships and theory of the evolution of the S complex. Genetica 40, 447-474.
A valuable summary of the cultural use of Nicotiana species in Australia is provided in D.E.Symon (2005). Native tobaccos (Solanaceae: Nicotiana spp.) in Australia and their use by Aboriginal peoples. The Beagle 21: 1-10.
Selected specimens
W.A.: Lake Weelhamby, R.D. Pearce 112 (AD); Lake Austin, 1894, J. Robertson (MEL); near Mileura, N.H. Speck 996A (CANB); c. 14 km W of Mileura, N.H. Speck 1008 (PERTH).
Web links
Further information for this species in WA can be found on the FloraBase site.