Nicotiana obtusifolia – “Coyote Tobacco”

Also Known As: Desert Tobacco
Other Botanical Names: Nicotiana trigonophylla
Family: Nightshade (Solonaceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-Jun
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Sandy washes and rocky places
Leaves: Narrowly triangular and sticky; alternate
Translation: “Nicotiana” is named for Jean Nicot, French ambassador to Portugal, who introduced tobacco to France in the mid-1500’s; “obtusifolia” is Latin for “wide-leaved”; “trigonophylla” is Greek for “triangle-leaved.”
Notes: Flower is about 1 inch (2½ cm) long and somewhat barrel-shaped. A similar species, Nicotiana attentuata, has similarly shaped and sized flowers but can be distinguished by its leaves, which have petioles (stems between the leaf and the stalk); Coyote Tobacco’s leaves are sessile (they do not have petioles and clasp the stalk directly).
Native American Uses: Coyote Tobacco was smoked ceremonially or for pleasure by many Native Americans, including the Cahuilla, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Mojave, Tohono O’odham, Pima and Quechan. Some tribes, including the Quechan and Havasupai, encouraged its growth by burning the wood of Mesquite (Prosopis sp.) and scattering seeds in the cool ashes. The Paiute tribe mixed Coyote Tobacco with Mistletoe (Phoradendron sp.) and smoked it out of pipes made from the swollen stem of a Desert Trumpet. For the Cahuilla, Coyote Tobacco was, according to Moerman, “an integral part of every ritual. Used by shamans to control rain, increase crop production, divining and… at community gatherings, to drive away malevolent powers… Leaves smoked by travelers to clear away all danger and ensure blessing from spiritual guides.” The Cahuilla also applied poultice of the leaves to wounds including cuts, bruises and swellings, blew smoke into the ear for earaches and drank an infusion of the leaves to induce vomiting.