Here's a bit more on tobacco at large. Nicotiana covers the genus of tobacco, but I found this information interesting about the genus:

NICOTIANA-This name is taken from Nicot who was at one time a French consul to Portugal and who introduced the use of tobacco to the courts of those countries.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/article/latinwords.html

...and, of course, the 'nicotine' connection between that and Nicotiana.