Heliotrope
Perspective
Ellura
Heliotrope
Leaf, under
 
                      
Heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum)Class: Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida)
Order: Mints (Lamiales)
Family: Forget-me-not (Boraginaceae)
Species: Heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum)
This Photo:     Leaf, above
Other name: Common Heliotrope & Potato Weed

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
It flourishes in wet summers here in SA, but also grows in drier seasons; with the seeds geminating after warm weather & rain (eg late spring).
It is a toxic plant (attacking the liver) and kills livestock (sheep & cattle), possibly taking years after grazzing on this weed for symptoms & death to occur. Some research suggests it also causes problems in Wombats.
Considered an introduced weed for a long time, it is currently considered native.

Copyright © 2017-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 30-Mar-2017
This species is classed as LC (Least Concern) in the Murray Mallee, SA, by DENR (Regional Species Status Assessments, July 2010)