Tabacco latifolium. Broade leafed Tabacco.
The great Indian Tabacco hath many very large, long, thicke, fat and faire greene leaues, standing foreright for the most part, and compassing the stalkes at the bottome of them, being somewhat pointed at the end: the stalke is greene and round, sixe or seuen foote high at sometimes, and in some places, in others not past three or foure foote high, diuided towards the toppe into many branches, with leaues at euery ioynt, and at the toppes of the branches many flowers, the bottomes hereof are long and hollow, and the toppes plaited or folded before they are open, but being open, are diuided sometimes into foure, or more vsually into fiue corners, somewhat like vnto other of the Bell-flowers, but lying a little flatter open, of a light carnation colour. The seede is very small and browne, contained in round heads, that are clammy while they are greene, and pointed at the end: the roote is great, whitish, and woody at the head, dispersing many long branches, and small fibres vnder the ground, whereby it is strongly fastened, but perisheth with our violent frosts in the winter, if it be left abroad in the garden, but if it be housed, or safely prouided for against the frostes, the rootes will liue, and spring afresh the next yeare.
There is of this kinde another sort, whose leaues are as large and long as the former, but thicker, and of a more dead greene colour, hanging downe to the ground-ward, and scarce any standing forth-right, as the former, vnlesse they bee very young: the flowers of this kinde are almost whole, without any great shew of corners at the brims or edges, in all other things there is no difference.
There is another, whose large and thicke flat leaues doe compasse the stalke at the bottome, and are as it were folded together one side vnto another: the flowers are of a deeper blush, or carnation colour, and with longer points and corners then in any of the former; and in these two things consisteth the difference from the others, and is called Verines Tabacco.
Another hath his leaues not so large and long as the first, and these haue short footestalkes, whereon they stand, and doe not compasse the stalke as the other doe: the flower hereof is like the first, but smaller, and of a little paler colour.
Tabacco angustifolium. Narrow leafed Tabacco.
This kinde of Tabacco hath somewhat lower, and smaller stalkes, then any of the former: the leaues hereof are smaller and narrower, and not altogether so thicke, but more pointed, and euery one standing vpon a footstalke, an inch and a halfe long at the least: the flowers hereof stand thicker together, vpon the small branches, somewhat larger, of a deeper blush colour, and more eminent corners then in any the former; the seed and roots are alike, and perish in like manner, vnlesse it be brought into a cellar, or other such couert, to defend it from the extremitie of the Winter.
The Place.
America or the West Indies is the place where all these kindes doe grow naturally, some in one place, and some in another, as in Peru, Trinidado, Hispaniola, and almost in euery Iland and Countrey of the continent thereof: with vs they are cherished in gardens, as well for the medicinable qualities, as for the beauty of the flowers.