Heliotropium ovalifolium Forssk., Boraginaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Euploca ovalifolia (Forssk.) Diane & Hilger

Common name(s): [more details]

English: grey leaf heliotrope

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herb, up to 90 cm tall, sometimes with woody base, much branched; young branches silvery pubescent. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules absent; petiole up to 1.5(-2) cm long; blade elliptical or obovate, up to 5.5 cm x 2.5 cm; base cuneate; apex retuse, mucronate or acute. Inflorescence a spike-like cyme, silky hairy, without bracts, with flowers arranged in two ranks, up to 4 cm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous; calyx with almost free lobes, densely covered with antrorse hairs; corolla funnel-shaped, up to 3 mm long, pubescent outside, lobes ovate-triangular, up to 2 mm long; stamens included in corolla tube, with very short filaments; ovary superior, 4-celled. Fruit splitting into 4 nutlets, densely white hairy" (PROTABASE).

"Plante herbac‚e p‚renne, atteignant 90 cm de hauteur, parfois lignifi‚e … la base, trŠs ramifi‚e; jeunes branches pubescentes argent‚es. Feuilles alternes, simples; stipules absentes; p‚tiole jusqu'… 1.5(-2) cm de longÿ; limbe elliptique ou obovale, jusqu'… 5.5 cm x 2,5 cm; base cun‚iforme; apex r‚tus, mucron‚ ou aigu. Inflorescence: cyme spiciforme, … pubescence soyeuse, d‚pourvue de bract‚es, … fleurs dispos‚es sur deux rangs, jusqu'… 4 cm de long. Fleurs bisexu‚es, r‚guliŠres, 5-mŠres; calice … lobes presque libres, dens‚ment couvert de poils antrorses; corolle en forme d'entonnoir, jusqu'… 3 mm de long, pubescente … l'ext‚rieur, lobes ovales-triangulaires, jusqu'… 2 mm de long; ‚tamines incluses dans le tube de la corolle, … filets trŠs courts; ovaire supŠre, 4-loculaire. Fruit se fendant en 4 nucules, dens‚ment couvertes de poils blancs" (PROTABASE).

Habitat/ecology:  In its native Africa, "Heliotropium ovalifolium occurs in diverse habitats, though drier places are preferred in general" (PROTABASE).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Africa, tropical Asia, Australia (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Western Australia
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Lesser Sunda Islands
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	cultivated	Topp, J. M. W. (1988) (p. 10)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Rivers, Julie (2004) (p. 3)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Heliotropium ovalifolium, please let us know.