Family: Boraginaceae
Heliotropium europaeum
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 187 (1753).
Synonymy: Heliotropium glandulosum Common name: Potato weed, heliotrope, common heliotrope.
Description:
Erect annual; stems, leaves and calyx with simple unicellular hairs: leaves elliptic to ovate, 1.5-9 cm long, 0.8-3 cm wide, long-petiolate, the apex obtuse, the margin not revolute or undulate.
Inflorescence a usually branched cyme, circinnate; calyx not accrescent; corolla white with the throat yellow, outside with simple unicellular hairs, inside glabrous, salverform, the tube c. 2-2.5 mm long, the limb c. 3.5-6 mm diam.; anthers free; style very short, the stigmatic cone papillate and c. 0.75-1 mm long.
Mericarps pubescent or glabrous, 4, falling at maturity.
| Flowering branch, half flower and fruit.
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Image source: fig. 538D in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 562.
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Distribution:
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Grows commonly in sandy loams.
S.Aust.: LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic. Native to Europe.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Jan. — Dec., usually Jan. — April.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
Poisonous to livestock.
Author:
Not yet available
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