Heliotropium curassavicum

Heliotropium curassavicum, commonly called salt heliotrope^[2] (among other names), a species of flowering plant in the borage family (Boraginaceae). It is native to much of the Americas, from Canada to Argentina, including the West Indies and Hawaii. It can be found as an introduced, and sometimes invasive, species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.^[3] It thrives in salty soils, such as beach sand, alkali flats, and salt marshes.^[3] It is often found in disturbed coastal sites.^[4]

Heliotropium curassavicum
variety oculatum in California
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Heliotropium
Species:	H. curassavicum
Binomial name
Heliotropium curassavicum L.

Description

This is a perennial herb which can take the form of a prostrate creeper along the ground to a somewhat erect shrub approaching 0.5 m (1.6 ft) in height. The stem and foliage are fleshy, with the leaves thick and oval or spade-shaped. The plentiful inflorescences are curled, coiling double rows of small bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is white with five rounded lobes and a purple or yellow throat. The fruit is a smooth nutlet.

Names

Due to its wide geographical range that spans many nations and languages, Heliotropium curassavicum has been given an assortment of common names. In English, these include seaside heliotrope, salt heliotrope, monkey tail, quail plant and Chinese parsley. In Latin American Spanish, it is known as cola de mico, cola de gama or rabo alacrán. It is called kīpūkai in Hawaii.

Taxonomy

There are five currently recognized varieties.^[3] These are:

• H. curassavicum var. argentinum - Native to the tropics of South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.^[5]
• H. curassavicum var. curassavicum - Globally widespread, native from the eastern U.S. to Argentina, and naturalized on seashores elsewhere.^[3]
• H. curassavicum var. fruticulosum - Endemic to the San Juan and Mendoza provinces of Argentina.^[6]
• H. curassavicum var. obovatum - Widespread in western North America and Chihuahua, Mexico.^[7]
• H. curassavicum var. oculatum - Native from southwestern Utah to Baja California.^[7]

• 
  Variety curassavicum has the smallest flowers, only 2.5-3.5 mm wide (Bahia Honda Key, Florida)
• 
  Variety obovatum has flowers 5–10 mm wide, with yellow or slightly purple-tinged throats (Moapa Valley, Nevada)
• 
  Variety oculatum has flowers 3–5 mm wide with purple throats (Marin County, California)