HELIOTROPIUM EUROPAEUM

Family and Genus:- See- BORAGINACEAE/H. EUROPAEUM Group

Common Names:- Heliotrope

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Heliotropium (Gr) Turn-with-the-sun.

Europaeum (L) European, from Europe.

General description:- Variable, low to short, erect or spreading, hairy annual,

generally branched

Stem:-

1) 10-50 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Up to 5·5(-6·5) x 2·8(-3·5) cm, ovate to elliptical, cuneate to almost rounded at

the base, rounded to subacute at the apex, with appressed-pubescent

a) petiole, up to 3·5 cm.

Flowers:-

1) 2-4.5 mm. borne in one-sided, forked, spiralled spikes, white with a yellow 'eye'.

unscented.

1) Sepals. 0·4-0·8 mm wide, linear-oblong or narrowly triangular, irregularly patent-

pubescent, usually patent soon after anthesis.

2) Corolla, 2-4·2 mm.

a) anthers, 0·7-1 mm.

b) stigma, narrow linear, subulate usually glabrous.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, splitting into 4, occasionally only 2.glabrous or pubescent, usually

rugose

Key features:-

1) Stigma, linear-subulate usually glabrous.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Cultivated, fallow and waste ground, roadsides. 0-700 m.

Distribution:- Mediterranean region S Europe and SW Asia, introduced as a weed

elsewhere. Limited distribution on Crete, but probably under recorded.

Flowering time:- End of May to early Nov.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton