Cleveland's tobacco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cleveland's tobacco |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nicotiana
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| Species: |
clevelandii
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Nicotiana clevelandii, also known as Cleveland's tobacco, is a type of wild tobacco plant. It was named after Daniel Cleveland, a plant collector and lawyer from San Diego in the 1800s.
This plant naturally grows in parts of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. You can find it in places like California and Arizona. It thrives in dry areas such as the Sonoran Desert and Colorado Desert. It also grows in the chaparral areas of coastal canyons, including the Peninsular Ranges and the Channel Islands of California.
About Cleveland's Tobacco
What Does It Look Like?
Cleveland's tobacco is an annual plant, meaning it lives for only one year. It has a thin stem that can grow up to about 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall. The plant is a bit sticky and has a few hairs on it. Its leaves can be up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) long. The lower leaves have small stalks called petioles.
The plant produces flowers that are white or have a green tint. These flowers have a tube-like shape, about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long. The bottom part of the flower is covered by pointed leaf-like structures called sepals, which are not all the same length. The front part of the flower is about a centimeter wide and has five mostly white sections.
After the flower, the plant grows a small fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about half a centimeter long.
How Was It Used?
Historically, the Cahuilla people used Cleveland's tobacco for different purposes. They used it in their traditional health remedies. They also used it in special ceremonies and cultural practices.
