Heliotropium L.

Heliotropium /ˌhiːli.ɵˈtroʊpi.əm/^[3] is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. There are 250 to 300 species in this genus, which are commonly known as heliotropes (sg. /ˈhiːli.ətroʊp/^{[clarification needed]}).

Etymology[edit]

The name "heliotrope" derives from the old idea that the inflorescences of these plants turned their rows of flowers to the sun.^[4] Ἥλιος (helios) is Greek for "sun", τροπεῖν (tropein) means "to turn". The Middle English name "turnsole" has the same meaning.

Ecology and human use[edit]

Grey Leaf Heliotrope Heliotropium ovalifolium at Pocharam lake, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Several heliotropes are popular garden plants, most notably Garden Heliotrope (H. arborescens). Some species are weeds and many are hepatotoxic if eaten in large quantities due to abundant pyrrolizidine alkaloids. There have been cases of canine death due to over-ingestion of this toxic plant.^{[citation needed]} Some danainae butterflies, such as the Queen, like to visit these plants, as pyrrolizidine alkaloids produce a pheromone to attract mates.^[5] Though it is not palatable and most animals will completely ignore it, there have been cases of horses, swine and cattle being poisoned due to contamination of hay.^[6]

Caterpillars of the Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus), a gossamer-winged butterfly, feed on H. strigosum.^{[citation needed]}

The sap of heliotrope flowers, namely of European Heliotrope (H. europaeum), was used as a food coloring in Middle Ages and Early Modern French cuisine.^{[citation needed]}

One of the most famous ragtime piano melodies is Heliotrope Bouquet, composed in 1907 by Louis Chauvin (the first two strains) and Scott Joplin (the last two strains).

Garden Heliotrope is grown in Southern Europe as an ingredient for perfume.^[7]

The purplish facial rash of dermatomyositis is called "heliotrope rash" because it resembles E. arborescens.^[8]

Selected species[edit]

Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum

European Heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum)

Indian Turnsole (Heliotropium indicum) inflorescence

Heliotropium procumbens habitus

Heliotropium strigosum in Keesara, Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

• Heliotropium amplexicaule Vahl – Clasping Heliotrope, Summer Heliotrope, Blue Heliotrope
• Heliotropium anderssonii
• Heliotropium anomalum Hook. & Arn. – Polynesian Heliotrope, Pacific Heliotrope (Pacific Islands)
  • Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum – Hinahina kū kahakai (Hawaii)
• Heliotropium arborescens – Garden Heliotrope, Common Heliotrope, "cherry pie"
• Heliotropium argenteum
• Heliotropium asperrimum R.Br.
• Heliotropium balfourii
• Heliotropium bracteatum R.Br.
• Heliotropium conocarpum F.Muell. ex Benth.
• Heliotropium crispatum F.Muell. ex Benth.
• Heliotropium diversifolium F.Muell. ex Benth.
• Heliotropium chenopodiaceum (A.DC.) Clos.
• Heliotropium claussenii DC.
• Heliotropium convolvulaceum – Sweet-scented Heliotrope, Showy Heliotrope
• Heliotropium curassavicum L. – Seaside Heliotrope, Salt Heliotrope, Monkey Tail, Quail Plant, "Chinese Parsley"; Cola de Mico (Spanish)
• Heliotropium dentatum
• Heliotropium derafontense
• Heliotropium ellipticum
• Heliotropium epacrideum F.Muell. ex Benth.
• Heliotropium europaeum L. – European Heliotrope, European Turnsole (Europe, Asia, and North Africa)
• Heliotropium fasciculatum R.Br.
• Heliotropium flintii F.Muell. ex A.S.Mitch.
• Heliotropium foertherianum Diane & Hilger – Tree Heliotrope, Velvet Soldierbush, Octopus Bush (South Asia, East Asia, Melanesia, western Polynesia, northern Australia)
• Heliotropium foliatum R.Br.
• Heliotropium glabellum R.Br.
• Heliotropium heteranthum (F.Muell.) Ewart & O.B.Davies
• Heliotropium indicum L. – Indian Turnsole
• Heliotropium kuriense
• Heliotropium laceolatum Loefg.
• Heliotropium lineariifolium Phil.
• Heliotropium megalanthumn I.M.Johnst.
• Heliotropium nigricans
• Heliotropium paniculatum R.Br.
• Heliotropium pannifolium – St. Helena Heliotrope (Saint Helena) (extinct, c.1820)
• Heliotropium pauciflorum R.Br.
• Heliotropium paulayanum
• Heliotropium pleiopterum F.Muell.
• Heliotropium procumbens
• Heliotropium prostratum R.Br.
• Heliotropium ramosissimum
• Heliotropium riebeckii
• Heliotropium shoabense
• Heliotropium sinuatum (Miers) I.M.Johnst.
• Heliotropium socotranum
• Heliotropium stenophyllum
• Heliotropium strigosum Willd.
• Heliotropium tenellum
• Heliotropium tenuifolium R.Br.
• Heliotropium ventricosum R.Br.
• Heliotropium wagneri
• Heliotropium aff. wagneri (Samhah, Yemen)

Formerly included here[edit]

• Chrozophora tinctoria (as H. tricoccum)
• Tournefortia gnaphalodes (L.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult. (as H. gnaphalodes L.)^[9]

See also[edit]

• Turnsole
• Heliotrope (disambiguation)

References[edit]

• Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L.; Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2.