birdandhike.com logo
Home | Vegetation | Plants Index | Shrubs
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Plant showing mix of last-year stems and current-year leaves and flowers

General: Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) is an upright herbaceous shrub with relatively large leaves for a desert plant (to 4 inches) and white, tubular flowers that form urn-shaped capsules. The flowers are about 1-inch long (shorter than other species). The entire plant is sticky glandular.

Desert Tobacco is an uncommon component of vegetation communities on well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils on upper bajadas and moderate slopes in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone.

Family: Nightshade (Solanaceae).

Other Names: Nicotiana trigonophylla.

Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
The entire plant is sticky glandular

Plant Form: Upright herbaceous shrub growing from a woody base with fairly large leaves for a desert plant.

Height: 2-3 feet tall.

Stems: Upright

Leaves: Fairly large for a desert plant (to 4 inches long), oval; lower leaves with short petiole; upper leaves narrower, clasping, pointed. Sticky glandular.

Flowers: Generally blooms late spring and early summer. Also flowers during early spring if conditions permit. Inflorescence: several flowers near the stem tips. Flower: white, tubular, about 1-inch long. Sticky glandular.

Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Flowers are white and tubular

Seeds: Fruit: urn-shaped capsule, 1/3 inch long, containing many small seeds.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils on upper bajadas and moderate slopes in the lower mountains.

Elevation: To about 5,000 feet.

Distribution: California to Utah and Texas, south in to Mexico.

Comments: This plant is dried and smoked by native peoples, but I do not know the amount nor any affects.

Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
In the shade, the plant can grow lush and green with large leaves
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
In the shade, the plant can grow lush and green with large leaves
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 220729

All Shrubs Plant Species Index Glossary Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer Home
Google Ads