Indian Heliotrope

Description:

Family -Boraginaceae, Genus - Heliotropium Indian heliotrope is an annual, erect, branched plant that can grow to a height of about 15 to 50 cm. It has a hairy stem, bearing alternating ovate to oblong-ovate leaves. It has small white flowers with a green calyx; five stamens borne on a corolla tube; a terminal style; and a four-lobed ovary. wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliotropium_indicum

Habitat:

Low moist alluvial woods, muddy banks, gravel bars, waste grounds.

Notes:

Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope, is an annual, hirsute plant that is a common weed in waste places and settled areas. It is native to Asia. The plant is easy to identify because of its rugose leaves and curled inflorescences, which have blue flowers. This plant is an introduced species and can be weedy but it grows well from seed and would make a good garden subject. Medicinal Uses Heliotropium indicum has various traditional medicinal uses such as treating abdominal pains, dysmenorrhoea, hypertension, convulsion, post-partum inflammatory disorders, wounds and infections and skin rashes.