HELIOTROPIUM HIRSUTISSIMUM

Family:- BORAGINACEAE/H. EUROPAEUM Group

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Heliotropium (Gr) Turn-with-the-sun.

Hirsutissimum (L) Very hairy, hairiest.

Stems:-

a) up to 40 cm.

b) erect or ascending.

c) stems and petioles with dense, greyish or yellowish, spreading (patent) hairs

c.1 mm.

Leaves:-

1) Lamina:

a) up to 5·5 x 2·8 cm.

b) ovate to elliptical, wedge-shaped (cuneate) to rounded at the base, rounded to

almost sharp (subacute) at the apex.

c) covered in soft hairs that are close to the stem (appressed-pubescent).

d) stalk (petiole) up to 3·5 cm.

Flowers:-

a) scented.

1) Sepals:

a) 3-4 mm.

b) linear-oblong.

c) with dense, patent hairs.

2) Corolla:

a) 5-8 mm.

b) limb 4-8 mm diam, white. with 5 scales in the throat.

c) anthers inserted near the base of the corolla-tube.

d) Stigma shallowly hemispherical, wider than long, pubescent.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets:

a) splitting into 4.

b) hairless (glabrous).

Key features:-

1) Calyx lobed to the base, not concealing the 4 free nutlets, and persisting after

they fall.

2) Stems densely covered with long, shaggy hairs (villous).

3) Corolla with scales in the throat.

Habitat:- Dry, open habitats, especially in cultivated ground or sandy soils. 0-800

Distribution:- Rare in W Greece and lacking in most of the north Widespread in the

E Mediterranean region, introduced as a weed elsewhere. Fairly widespread though

not overly common on Crete.

Flowering time:- End of May to Oct.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis