Nicotianaceae
/ˌnɪkoʊˌtiˌænəˈsiːiː/noun
A family of flowering plants in the nightshade order, including tobacco and related genera.
Did you know?Nicotianaceae is named for Nicot, the 16th-century French diplomat Jean Nicot, whose introduction of tobacco to France made his name immortal in botany and later gave us the alkaloid term nicotine.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
French
Nicot
“A French surname, later associated with Jean Nicot”
1560s
French/Portuguese
nicotiane
“Tobacco plant, named in honor of Nicot after its introduction to France”
16th–17th Century
New Latin
Nicotiana
“Botanical genus name for tobacco and related plants”
19th Century
New Latin
Nicotianaceae
“Scientific family name for the tobacco family of plants”
Modern English
English
nicotianaceae
“The botanical family containing tobacco and its relatives”
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