Syrian or Steppe Rue.—The seeds of Peganum Harmala, a plant abundant in the Crimea, are occasionally eaten by the Turks as a narcotic indulgence. The active virtues seem to reside in the husk of the seed, which contains about 4 per cent. of two alkaloids, called harmine and harmaline (01311„N20).
Thorn-apples.—Tho fruit of the red thorn-apple of Peru (Datura sanguine), which grows on the less steep slopes of the Andean valleys, is used by some tribes of the Indiana for preparing a strong narcotic drink, called Conga. The whole plant is narcotic, but the seeds are most powerful. The seeds of the common thorn-apple, D. Stramonium, possess similar properties. They are used as poison on the Continent and in India ; and in Russia, China, and Upper India, they, or the seeds of other species (D. Melet, D. fastuosa, A alba), are employed to increase the intoxicating qualities of fermented liquors. The dried leaves of D. Stramoniurn and A tatula, made into cigarettes, are smoked as a cure for some forms of asthma (see Drugs—Stramonium, p. 826).
Tobacco.—Tobacco, the most largely and widely consumed of all narcotics, is the product of a number of plants belonging to the genus Nicotiana. The species and varieties having most interest for the cultivator are the following : I. N. Tabacum macrophylla [latifolia, lattissima, tobacco. Of this, there are two sub-species—(l) Stalkless Maryland, of the following varieties : (a) N. inaerophylla ovate short-leaved Maryland, producing a good smoking tobacco, (b) N. macrophylla leaved Maryland, yielding a good smoking tobacco, and excellent wrappers for cigars, (c) N. macro phylla pandurate—broad-leaved, or Amersfort, much cultivated in Germany and Holland, a heavy cropper, and especially adapted for the manufacture of good snuff; (2) Stalked Maryland, of the following varieties : (a) N. macrophylla alata, (b) N. macrophylla Maryland, producing a very fine leaf, from which probably the finest Turkish is obtained. Cuban and Manilla arc now attributed to this group.
II. N. Tabacum tobacco. Of this, there are two sub-species--(l) Stalk less Virginian, of the following varieties : (a) N. angustifolia acuminate, grown in Germany for snuff, seldom for smoking, (b) N. angustifolia lanceolate, affords snuff, (c) N, angustifolia pendulifolia, another
snuff tobacco, (d) N. angustifolia Virginian, used chiefly for snuff, (e) N. angustifolia Virginian, matures quickly, (f) N. angustifolia pandurata, furnishes good leaves for smoking, produces heavily, and is much grown in Germany, and said to be grown at the Pruth as " tempyki," and highly esteemed ; (2) Stalked Virginian, of the following varieties (a) N. angustifolia elate, (b) N. angustifolia lanceolate [N. fructiosa], growing to a height of 8 ft., (c) N. angustifolia oblonga, (d) N. angustifolia cordata—E. Indian, producing heavily in good soil, and well adapted for snuff, but not for smoking. Latakia and Turkish are now accredited to N. Tabacum.
III. N. Hungarian, or Turkish tobacco. Of this, there are two varieties : (a) N. rustica Hungarian, Brazilian, Turkish, Asiatic, furnishing leaves for smoking; (b) N. rustica Hungarian, affords fine aromatic leaves for smoking, but the yield is small. Until quite recently, Latakia, Turkish, and Manilla tobaccos were referred to this species; Latakia is now proved to belong to N. Tabacum, and Manilla is said to be absolutely identical with Cuban, which latter is now ascribed to N. Tabacum macrophylla.
IV. N. crispa—This species is much grown in Syria, Calabria, and Central Asia, and furnishes leaves for the celebrated cigars of the Levant.
V. N. persica.—Hitherto supposed to be a distinct species, affording the Shiraz tobacco, but now proved to be only a form of N. Tabacum.
VI. N. Mexican with small foliage. Long thought to be a distinct species peculiar to Cuba, but none such is now to be found in Cuba, whether wild or cultivated, and all the Cuban tobacco is now obtained from N. Tabacum macrophyllum.
Among the many other forms interesting only to the botanist or horticulturist, the principal are N. paniculata, N. glutinosa, N. glauca, attaining a height of 18 ft., and N. clevelandii, exceedingly strong, quite recently discovered in California, and supposed to have been used by the early natives of that country.