Tree Tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
Color: Yellow
Common name: Tree Tobacco
Latin name: Nicotiana glauca
Family: SOLANACEAE
Height: < 19.5 feet
Description: The 30–35 mm flower has a cylindric corolla.
Leaf: Its leaves are attached to the stems by stalks (many other Nicotiana species have sessile leaves), and its leaves and stems are neither hairy nor sticky.
Range: Desert, Inner North Coast Ranges, c&s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Central Valley, Central Western California, Southwestern California
Habitat: Open, disturbed flats or slopes
Elevation: < 1100 m.
Flowering time: Spring, summer
Notes: Nicotiana glauca, a dicot, is a tree or shrub that is not native to California; it was introduced from elsewhere and naturalized in the wild. The California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) lists plants that cause serious problems in native ecosystems. In the 2006 list, Cal-IPC classifies the statewide impact of Nicotiana glauca as moderate. Tree tobacco was introduced to California about 100 years ago and is found growing up to 5,000 feet in disturbed soils, vacant lots, along roadsides, streamsides, and other riparian areas. Distribution outside California: to s US, Mexico, Africa, Mediterranean; native to S.America. This photo was taken near Caliente, Kern County, California on June 6, 2004.
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
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