Indian heliotrope
Heliotropium indicum, Fam. Boraginaceae
Stout erect annual herb to 0.5m, covered with long white hairs.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Herb |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Alternate Simple, alternate-sub opposite simple ovate, 150 x 30-100mm, tapered at both ends, dull dark green above, paler below, unusually wrinkled, stalks 10-110mm long sometimes winged at apex. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Blue, White, Yellow |
| Flower description: | White to blue with yellow throat, 3mm across, borne on the outside of a curled spike that straightens and is up to 150mm at maturity. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Brown, deeply 2 lobed, margins of lobes meeting each other below middle of fruit and splitting at maturity into 4 tear-drop shaped ‘seeds’ (nutlets). |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | South America |
| Notes: | Invades/threats: wet areas, river banks, wetlands, disturbed areas, coastal zones. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
