Seaside heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum L.
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect to decumbent, branched. Plants glabrous, glaucous.
- Leaves
- Cauline, alternate, simple, succulent; blade spatulate or oblanceolate to elliptic or linear-obovate to linear, .4 to 1.6 inch long, .08 to .7 inch wide, tip rounded to acute.
- Inflorescence
- Terminal and axillary, scorpioid cymes.
- Flower
- Sepals connate basally, calyx .1 to .2 inch, lobes narrowly lanceolate; corolla white, funnelform, 5-lobed, limb .08 to .35 inch wide, lobes spreading, tip acute to rounded; stamens 5, included.
- Fruit
- Schizocarps; nutlets 4, ca. .1 inch, glabrous.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Saline soils, salt marshes, shores of reservoirs.
- Distribution
- Principally southwest quarter of Kansas
Practical Information
- Uses
- The Paiute and Shoshoni took a decoction of root as an emetic and as a gargle for sore throats.
Additional Notes
Comments
Heliotropium - sun and turn, alluding to the belief that flowering plants turned toward the sun.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Boraginaceae - Borage Family
- Life Span
- Annual
- Height
- 4-16 inches
- Origin
- Native
- Last Updated
- 2014-01-20
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: June, July, August, September, October