Sore-Bush

Title

Sore-Bush

Authors

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Heliotropium angiospermum Murray

Description

Common Names

Sore-Bush, Scorpion Tail, Rooster Comb, Cat Tongue, Bright Eye bush

Boraginaceae

Heliotropium angiospermum grows as an herbaceous annual or perennial to 1 meter in height. The vegetation has hispid pubescence. The leaves are arranged alternately and may be covered with warts filled with calcium carbonate. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate with an acute leaf apex and dentate leaf margin with deep showy veins.

The slightly zygomorphic flowers are arranged in 2 rows along the rachis of the terminal, scorpoid cymes. The calyx has 5 unfused green petals. The corolla has 5 fused white petals with a yellow center, with one lobe slight larger than the others. There are 5 stamens fused to the base of the corolla. The ovary is superior with 4 locules. The fruit is a capsule.

Heliotropium angiospermum grows in human disturbed areas, open flats and the edges of Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations (coppice).

Heliotropium angiospermum occurs on all islands in the Bahamian Archipelago as well as the entire New World tropical and subtropical zones.

Heliotropium angiospermum is used in the Bahamas to treat dermatological problems (itches, stings), wounds (sores and cuts), infant issues (colic) and strains.

In the Turks and Caicos it is used to treat conjunctivitis.