Nicotiana rustica

Native to Peru, this annual herb is a member of the nightshade family and is commonly called Aztec tobacco. Yellow-green flowers have short tubular bases and rounded, spreading mouths. They develop in clusters on upright branching stems. Its leaves contain high concentrations of nicotine and are poisonous if eaten. It has long been cultivated for tobacco and is used in ceremonies by Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The seeds need light to germinate, and the flowers usually self-pollinate, although nectar-seeking insects can transfer pollen between plants. Photographed in Colombia.