Heliotropium

Taxobox
name = Heliotropes

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Heliotropium peruvianum"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
subclassis = Asteridae
unranked_ordo = Euasterids I
ordo = Boraginales
familia = Boraginaceae
genus = "Heliotropium"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = 250-300, see text

The heliotropes ("Heliotropium") is a genus of plants in the family Boraginaceae with 250 to 300 species.

The name "heliotrope" derives from the fact that these plants turn their leaves to the sun. "Helios" is Greek for "sun", "tropein" means "to turn". The old English name "turnsole" has the same etymology.

Ecology and human use

Danainae butterflies like to visit these plants. One reason is to drink the sap which renders the butterflies noxious to predators. Some species collect olfactory compounds to produce a kind of "perfume" to attract mates. Caterpillars of the Grass Jewel ("Freyeria trochylus"), a gossamer-winged butterfly, feed on "H. strigosum".

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. 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.

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).

Common heliotrope is grown in Southern Europe as an ingredient for perfume. [ [http://www.floridata.com/ref/H/heli_arb.cfm Floridata: Heliotropium arborsecens] ]

elected species

* "Heliotropium amplexicaule" – Summer Heliotrope
* "Heliotropium anderssonii"
* "Heliotropium anomalum" – Polynesian Heliotrope, Pacific Heliotrope
** "Heliotropium anomalum" var. "argenteum" – "hinahina, hinahina ku kahakai, nohonohopuuone, pohinahina" (Hawaiian)
* "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" – Seaside Heliotrope, Salt Heliotrope, Chinese Parsley, Monkey Tail, Quail Plant; "cola de mico" (Spanish)
* "Heliotropium dentatum"
* "Heliotropium derafontense"
* "Heliotropium ellipticum"
* "Heliotropium epacrideum" F.Muell. ex Benth.
* "Heliotropium europaeum" – European Heliotrope, European Turnsole
* "Heliotropium fasciculatum" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium flintii" F.Muell. ex A.S.Mitch.
* "Heliotropium foertherianum" Diane & Hilger
* "Heliotropium foliatum" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium glabellum" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium heteranthum" (F.Muell.) Ewart & O.B.Davies
* "Heliotropium indicum"
* "Heliotropium kuriense"
* "Heliotropium laceolatum" Loefg.
* "Heliotropium lineariifolium" Phil.
* "Heliotropium megalanthumn" I.M. Johnst.
* "Heliotropium nigricans"
* "Heliotropium paniculatum" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium pannifolium" – St Helena Heliotrope (extinct: c.1820)
* "Heliotropium pauciflorum" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium paulayanum"
* "Heliotropium peruvianum"
* "Heliotropium pleiopterum" F.Muell.
* "Heliotropium procumbens"
* "Heliotropium prostratum" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium riebeckii"
* "Heliotropium shoabense"
* "Heliotropium sinuatum" (Miers) I.M.Johnst.
* "Heliotropium socotranum"
* "Heliotropium stenophyllum" Hook. et Arn.
* "Heliotropium strigosum" Willd.
* "Heliotropium tenuifolium" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium ventricosum" R.Br.
* "Heliotropium wagneri"
* "Heliotropium" aff. "wagneri" "Samhah"

Formerly included here

* "Chrozophora tinctoria" (as "H. tricoccum")

ee also

* Turnsole

References

*: (2007): "Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico". Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock. ISBN 0-89672-614-2

External links

* [http://www.gardenerspath.com/plantguide/heliotrope.html A Heliotrope] at Gardener's Path
* [http://www.oldhouseweb.com/gardening/garden/visuals/helspb01.jpgPictures of Heliotropes] at The Old House Web
* [http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/HighResPages/EH0829.htm Picture of Heliotropium chenopodiaceum] at Chileflora