Heliotropium curassavicum L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Boraginaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Heliotropium curassavicum L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Erect or prostrate, glabrous herb or subshrub, to 30 cm tall, many-branched from a woody taprooted base. Leaves alternate or nearly opposite, sessile, 1.5-4.5 x 0.2-0.4 cm, narrowly oblanceolate, succulent (ca. 1 mm thick), usually with grayish or bluish hue (glaucous), only main vein conspicuous, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base cuneate, the margins entire. Flowers in terminal, coiled, branched or unbranched spikes, 1-8 cm long. Sepals green, awl-shaped, 1.5 mm long, erect; corolla white, urceolate, the tube 1.5-2 mm long, the lobes spreading, 0.5-1 mm long; anthers and stigma sessile. Fruit depressed globose, slightly lobed, ca. 2.5 mm diam., splitting into 4 nuts.

  • Distribution

    A common herb from open, disturbed areas, especially along sandy beaches. Great Cruz Bay (A795, A3104), East End (A2426). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; southeastern United States to Central America, the West Indies and Asia.

    Asia| Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| West Indies| Central America| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|