Desert Tobacco. Nicotiana trigonophylla, Nightshade Or Potato Family ( Solanaceae ), Desert Tobacco. Also called: Wild tobacco, "winpuri" (Papago), coyote tobacco (Papago), desert tobacco, "pi: 'va" (Hopi). We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Nicotiana trigonophylla is an annual, biannual, or sometimes a short-lived perennial. It stands 1-3 feet in height. Large plants have numerous multi-branched stems arising from their bases. The large leaves are oblong, green, and clasp the stem. They become smaller as they near the end of the branches� flowering top. The small, tubular, cream-colored, greenish white flowers form at branch ends. The seed capsules contain many small brown seeds. The entire plant is sticky and covered with small hairs. It is commonly found in Arizona and parts of New Mexico. Look for this native plant in disturbed soils, vacant lots, trail and roadsides, flood plains, and along washes and drainages. The oval to lance-shaped leaves are 2 to 6 inches long and covered with soft, short hairs. They grow opposite each other on the stem, attached directly at the base. The five-lobed, greenish-white or yellowish, trumpet-shaped flowers are about 0.5 to 1.5 inches long. All parts of desert tobacco contain the alkaloids nicotine and anabasine as toxic agents. Therefore, all parts of this plant are considered poisonous. Quick Notes: Height: Up To About 16 - 36 Inches Tall. Flowers: Flowers white to pale yellow to greenish-white, tubular, to 3/4" long. Flowering Time: Mid March - November. Seeds & Seed Pods: The seed capsules contain many small brown seeds. Fruit: The fruit is up to 1 3/4 inches by 3 inches, with an egg shape, the green fruit ripens over about a 45 day period of time and turns a dark red color then just before the fall rainy season, it splits open to reveal bright-red, pulpy flesh which many of the desert creatures seem to enjoy. This ripening time would be about the last half of June into Mid - July. This fruit was a food source to the Native Americans of Arizona who used the flesh, seeds and juice. Leaves: Leaves are simple, smooth-edged, oval to lance-shaped, sticky, dark green, up to about 6" long. Found: Throughout Arizona and New Mexico. Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 �C (-40 �F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 �C (-35 �F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: Usually at 0 - 3,600 Feet. But, said to grow up to 6,900 feet. Habitat: Found in gravelly-sandy washes and river edges. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken April 10, 2003. In A Wash, Near Wickenburg, Arizona.

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