 Habit, W of Eucla, WA. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Habit and inflorescence. Photo: M.Fagg © M.Fagg |
 Inflorescence, pot grown plant. Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Image reproduced with permission from Japan Tobacco Inc. from The genus Nicotiana illustrated (1994). |
 Seed (DE Symon 16731, AD). Photo © Bob Baldock. |
 Distribution map generated from Australia's Virtual Herbarium, May 2006. |
Synonymy
Nicotiana goodspeedii H.-M. Wheeler, Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 18(4): 63 (1935)
T: Fowler's Bay, S.A., 1879, Richards s.n.; holo: MEL.
Description
Herb to 1 m, often with many stems; stems and leaves usually glabrous.
Leaves mostly radical, elliptic to spathulate, the cauline ones narrower; lamina up to 20 cm long; petiole to 8 cm long, narrowly winged; upper leaves sessile.
Inflorescence panicle-like, usually few-branched, pubescent with glandular hairs. Calyx 4–12 mm long. Corolla-tube 8–20 mm long, 1–3 mm wide at top of calyx, slightly narrowed at base; limb 5–12 mm diam., the lobes obtuse or notched. Upper 4 anthers at about the same level, their filaments to 4.5 mm long; filament of the 5th stamen 4–10 mm long, inserted in lower half of corolla-tube.
Capsule ellipsoid or ovoid-ellipsoid, 5–10 mm long. Seeds C-shaped; testa wrinkled. n=20.
Distribution and ecology
Widespread in southern Australia, extending from south-eastern W.A. to north-western Vic., the Riverina area and central plains of N.S.W.
Grows mostly in alkaline soils, often in sand overlying limestone, in open, frequently disturbed areas.
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.: Mundrabilla Stn, T. E. H. Aplin 1715 (PERTH). S.A.: 24 km N of Maralinga, R. A. Perry 5567 (CANB); near Morgan, R. Schodde 735 (AD, CANB). N.S.W.: 23 km NNW of Conoble Railway Stn, J. Pickard 1931 (NSW). Vic.: 12 km N of Managatang, A. C. Beauglehole 55985 (MEL).
Web links
Further information and images of this species in NSW can be seen on the PlantNET site, for WA on the FloraBase site and a
fact sheet can be downloaded from the SA eFlora site.