Heliotropium curassavicum L.

Spice In the field

Family: BORAGINACEAE

Genus: Heliotropium

Catalan common name: Heliotrop.

Spanish common name: Heliotropo.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): America

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Rocky coastlines. Coastal zones.

Characteristics: A herbaceous plant which lives very near where the waves reach, normally in altered areas such as dry docks and harbours. It forms an inflorescence in the shape of a scorpion with white flowers, and the leaves are narrowly lanceolate, without hairs. When picked for drying, it turns black after some days in the press. It is a species which was introduced from America and has spread throughout the Mediterranean.