Nicotiana sp.?

[prier]

I was told that this plant was known as a native tobacco. If someone could ID it for me that would be much appreciated.

[tonic]

Doesn't look like the native tobacco that I am familiar with Astrotricha floccosa.

Try doing a search on Astrotricha and see what you come up with. Doesn't look like this genus to me at all, as it usually has downy or wooly hairs on the leaves and is a tall shrub commonly seen on disturbed sites or after fires in wooded areas. It's definitely not the species I refer to at any rate. Though there may be other native tobacco in your area that is an entirely different genus. I am in the Sydney region.

[prier]

Thanks for the reply. I really have my doubts as to whether this really is a native tobacco. I'm pretty sure that the person who showed me it thought it was in the genus Nicotiana. It doesn't seem to be an Astrotricha.

[ferret]

looks like a mullein to me

[tonic]

looks like a mullein to me

Aha! I was trying to remember what that weed was called 'Twiggy Mullein'.....

Thanks ferret, that's what I think it is.

[prier]

Thanks guys, I did have a sneaking suspicion I'd be dissapointed. Good to have it cleared up though.

[TheFriendlyPlanter]

Definitely not Nicotiana- possibly Ajuga australis (Australian bugle) (Laminaceae) which is a nice native rockery plant, grows easily from seed and is very drought hardy! just wait for the flowers if you want a sure ID of any plant! Here's a google pic

[Vertmorpheus]

Little bit off topic, but I noticed a while ago that my copy of Culpepper's Herbal(with modern qualified added in bits) says that purple bugle (not that one in the pic up there, but Ajuga reptans atro-purpurea ) was thought to have "narcotic properties" in the olden days (geeze they had fun back then). Nothing more specific and no reference anywhere else that I've noticed. It's a pretty plant all the same, pretty tough but can get a bit sunburnt sometimes. I think there is a gold form around as well.