Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Heliotropium curassavicum L.
Family : BORAGINACEAE
Genus : Heliotropium
Catalan common name : Heliotrop.
Spanish common name : Heliotropo.
Province distribution : Alicante. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castellón. Gerona. Tarragona. Valencia.
Distribution in the islands : Cabrera. Formentera. Ibiza. Mallorca. Minorca.
General distribution : America
Flowering time : June. July. August. September. October.
Life-forms : Chameophyte.
Habitat : Coastal zones.
IUCN Category : Poco preocupante
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.
Status : Alien species.
