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In Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia we can see this photograph with the palán-galán shrub (nicotiana glauca) next to Mataró beach. It is a plant native to Argentina and Bolivia, considered invasive and colonizing in Spain. In addition, it has historically had medicinal and ritual uses.
In fact, this plant has served as the basis of research as a possible cure for nicotine addiction. This species does not contain significant amounts of this organic compound, but does contain anabasine, a related alkaloid.
Like Nicotiana tabacum, the leaves of Nicotiana glauca are used for smoking, usually ritualistically in the case of some aboriginal peoples, but they are also used as fillers in lower quality commercial cigarettes.
The palán-galán was included in the Spanish Catalog of Invasive Alien Species as it was considered that it could be a serious threat to native species due to its colonizing potential.
It is a toxic plant, which is also used as an energy crop for the production of biofuel. However, it can also be used to control pests of aphids, whiteflies and other insects. It also has an antifungal effect on crops.
