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Indian Heliotrope
Heliotropium indicum Linnaeus
Indian Heliotrope: https://marylandbiodiversity.org/species/2275
Synonyms
Tiaridium indicum 
Tags
Waif Non-native

Map Snapshot

3 Records

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Status

"Widely distributed in the Tropics of both hemispheres, probably of American origin" (Reed, 1964).

Resources

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View at Maryland Plant Atlas Search Flora of North America Search Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium Search Norton-Brown Herbarium Search MNPS Facebook posts

Citations

No citations linked for this taxon yet.

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Source: Wikipedia

Heliotropium indicum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Heliotropiaceae
Genus: Heliotropium
Species:
H. indicum
Binomial name
Heliotropium indicum
Synonyms

Heliophytum indicum
Heliotropium parviflorum
Tiaridium indicum

Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope or Indian turnsole, is an annual, hirsute plant. It has a curved arrangement of small flowers and velvety broad green leaves.

Native to Asia and Africa, it is a common weed in waste places and settled areas. It contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids but has been used in traditional medicine.

Description

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Indian heliotrope is an annual, erect, branched plant that can grow to a height of about 15–50 cm (5.9–19.7 in). It has a hairy stem, bearing alternating ovate to oblong-ovate leaves. It has small white or purple flowers with a green calyx; five stamens borne on a corolla tube; a terminal style; and a four-lobed ovary.[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

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The plant is native to Asia. It is a common weed in waste places and settled areas.[1]

Toxicity

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Heliotropium indicum contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.[3]

Traditional medicine

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In the Philippines, the plant is chiefly used as a traditional medicine. The extracted juice from the pounded leaves of the plants is used on wounds, skin ulcers and furuncles.[citation needed] The juice is also used as an eye drop for conjunctivitis.[citation needed] The pounded leaves are used as poultice.[4]

It is widely used in native medicine in Tamil Nadu, India.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Trompang elepante". Philippine Medicinal Plants oten.
  2. ^ "Heliotropium indicum L." USDA Plants Database.
  3. ^ Fu, P.P., Yang, Y.C., Xia, Q., Chou, M.C., Cui, Y.Y., Lin G., "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids-tumorigenic components in Chinese herbal medicina and dietary supplements", Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2002, pp. 198-211
  4. ^ Onaylos, Irma Noel. Plants That You Know But Really Don't: Home Remedies from 110 Philippine Medicinal Plants. Cebu City: Our Press, Inc. p. 40.
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  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Heliotropium indicum at Wikimedia Commons
  • Heliotropium indicum in West African plants – A Photo Guide.