Pipe-weed

2007-08-18T22:09:02Z

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[[Image:John Howe - Hobbit pipe.jpg|thumb|''Hobbit pipe'' by [[John Howe]].]]
'''Pipe-weed''' (also known as [[Halflings' Leaf]]) is a plant developed by the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]]. The cultivation and exportation of this herb is a key industry in the Shire, especially in the south. Among the [[Dunedain]] it is known as '''''sweet galenas''''', and in [[Gondor]] it grows as a wild herb, appreciated primarily for its fragrant blossoms.

Among the [[Gondorians]] it is known popularly as '''''westmansweed''''', a reference to its origin: it was apparently brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Numenor|Númenóreans]] during the [[Second Age]]. There it was first domesticated by [[Tobold Hornblower]] of [[Longbottom]] in [[Southfarthing]] around [[Shire Calendar|S.R.]] 1070 ([[Third Age|T.A.]] 2670). Despite its foreign origins, the Hobbits (possibly those in [[Bree]]) were the first to use it for smoking.

Popular varieties of pipe-weed include Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, and Southern Star.

In the prologue to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien states specifically that "it is a strain of the herb ''nicotiana''", i.e. tobacco. Whether the substance is psychoactive remains unclear.

The [[Istar|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits and is often seen blowing smoke-rings. [[Saruman]] initially derides him for this, but at some point he takes up smoking himself. After the destruction of [[Isengard]], pipe-weed is found among its stores, but the Hobbits [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] fail to realize the [[Scouring of the Shire|sinister implications]] of the discovery that Saruman has had commerce with the Shire.

[[Category:Plants]]

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Pipe-weed