Heliotropium europaeum is a species of heliotrope known by the common names European heliotrope and European turn-sole.It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but it is widely naturalized elsewhere, such as in Australia and North America. It grows as a roadside weed in some places. This is an annual herb growing from a taproot and reaching maximum heights near 40 centimeters. The stem and oval-shaped leaves are covered in soft hairs. The inflorescences are coiled spikes of white flowers with fuzzy or bristly sepals. Each flower is just a few millimeters wide. The fruit is a bumpy nutlet.
Annual. Stems up to 60 cm, usually erect or ascending. Petiolate leaves with a plate (20-) 40-60 (-70) x (10-) 20-30 (-45) mm, ovate, oblong, elliptical or slightly rhombic. Inflorescence up to 18 cm in fruiting. Corolla 2-3.5 mm, white. Nuts 0.8-2 x 1.2-1.5 mm, with stiff hairs. Flowers and fruits from March to November.
Habitat:terrestrial.New England state :Massachusetts.Flower petal color:white.Leaf type:the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets).Leaf arrangement:
alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem.Leaf blade edges:the edge of the leaf blade has teeththe edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes).Flower symmetry:there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical).Number of sepals, petals or tepals:there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower.Fusion of sepals and petals:
the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube.Stamen number:5. Fruit type (general):the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe.Fruit length:1.5–3 mm.
This plant might be poisonous. Invasive in Western Australia.
