Botanical Information

Tobacco is a tall, leafy plant belonging to the solanaceae (nightshade) family, which contains herbs, shrubs, and trees. These may be poisonous weeds or important crop plants. Members of this family may have leaves, flowers, and/or fruits and berries. Other plants grouped into this family include the tomato and eggplant.

Tobacco grows naturally throughout the world including parts of the United States, Central America, and South America. A well-grown plant reaches an average height of 160-190 cm (63-75 inches). It will usually have 18-22 leaves. The main source of most tobacco products is Nicotiana tabacum. The leaf of the tobacco plant is picked and then used in various tobaccoproducts. These include cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and snuff.

The leaves growing at the top of the plant are called the "tips." They are usually narrow and pointed. They are thicker than the leaves on the lower part of the plant. Leaves growing around the middle of the stalk are referred to as "smoking leaves" (although all leaf types are harvested and used in tobacco products). These leaves ripen to a bright orange color. "Cutters," which are found on the bottom half of the stalk, are the largest leaves on the plant. They are known for their bright lemon color. The leaves at the bottom of the stalk are called the "priming." These are the first to ripen and the first to be picked.