Botanists recently described Nicotiana insecticida, a remarkable new wild tobacco species found growing near a truck stop in Western Australia. Unlike its relatives, this plant is covered with sticky glandular hairs that snare and kill small insects (including gnats, aphids, and flies) making it the first wild tobacco known to use this strateg
➡️ The discovery of Nicotiana insecticida highlights nature’s ingenuity and the surprising botanical diversity that can emerge even in harsh, arid lands. It also reminds us that there are still many unknown species and hidden adaptations awaiting scientific recognition…with profound implications for ecological management and natural pest control.
Fascinatingly, when seeds were cultivated in London’s Kew Gardens, the plants continued their insect-trapping behavior…proving this toxic trait is deeply encoded in their biology.
Gratitude to the field botanists and researchers whose persistence and curiosity keep revealing the extraordinary capabilities of our planet’s flora.
Reference:
Chase, M.W., Christenhusz, M.J.M., et al. (2021). Seven new species of Nicotiana from arid regions of Australia. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine.
Photo credit: Maarten Christenhusz.
Discovery Spotlight: The Killer Tobacco Plant of Australia 🗡️ 🌿
