Common names
Corunna Tobacco
Etymology
Nicotiana, named after Jean Nicot (1530-1600), a French Ambassador for the King of France to Lisbon in 1560, who sent the first tobacco plant to France. Corunna, named after Corunna Station, north of Iron Knob in South Australia, where the species was first collected.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and found in a few locations around Port Augusta, growing in sandy or stony loamy soils in creeklines and hillsides. Native. Rare in South Australia.
Herbarium region: Eyre Peninsula
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Erect herb to 1 m tall with more or less glabrous stems and leaves. Leaves radical and cauline; mostly lanceolate. Inflorescence erect, few-branched spike with tubular flowers, white inside and cream, green or purple-tinged outside. Fruits are brown ellipsoid to ovoid capsule. Seeds are brown reniform seed to 0.7 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, covered in wrinkles. Seed embryo type is linear, fully-developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and December. Collect mature capsules, those that are brown or turning a pale straw-colour and contain brown seeds. Can collect individual capsules or break off the whole fruit spike. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks, then rub the capsules gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA | 11,900 (1.44 g) | 6 | 1-Nov-2004 | DES17088 Eyre Peninsula | 1-Jan-2016 | 95% | -18°C |