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To: SunkenCiv

I seem to remember that there are some species of tobacco plants that are from the NEar East. Latakia comes to mind as a prized variety that used to be advertised as part of the blend in Camels I believe.

And I think that was one of the reasons for the Egyptiam motif on the package as well as the Camel itself.


12 posted on 03/26/2005 9:08:00 AM PST by wildbill
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To: wildbill

All varieties of tobacco were bred from American varieties, presumably since 1492, but hey... It's native to the Americas, as is the potato, tomato, pepper, datura, and probably the eggplant (although that could also be from Asia). As the critics of the data -- who reject a priori ancient transoceanic navigation -- point out, there are no representations of either tobacco or coca plants, or of unidentified plants.

Other tobacco relatives include the other nightshades ("solanum nigrum" is aka "deadly nightshade" or "black nightshade"), the Jerusalem cherry (decorative), chinese lantern, tomatillo, nantucket ground cherry, other husk tomatoes, and the "Love Apple", the tomato-like but poisonous ornamental plant that is the reason tomatoes were long thought to be poisonous. Datura is the "zombie cucumber" plant found in "Serpent and the Rainbow". Oleander and poinsetta are also relatives, as is (obviously) nicotiana, hmm, petunias I think, some others. Most of these (but perhaps not quite all) are American natives.

See Louise Riotte's "Carrots Love Tomatoes", it's a great source of info, although it's primarily for gardeners.


13 posted on 03/26/2005 9:44:24 PM PST by SunkenCiv (last updated my FreeRepublic profile on Friday, March 25, 2005.)
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