Heliotropium

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iHeliotrope
H. arborescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Heliotropium
L.
Species

250-300, see text

The Heliotropes (Heliotropium) is a genus of plants in the family Boraginaceae with 250 to 300 species. Several of them are popular garden plants, most notably Heliotropium arborescens.

The name Heliotrope (Helios is Greek for sun, tropein means turn) derives from the fact that these plants turn their leaves to the sun.

One of the most famous ragtime piano melodies, with the first two strains composed by Louis Chauvin and the last two by Scott Joplin, is Heliotrope Bouquet (1907).

[edit] Notable species

  • H. amplexicaule : Summer Heliotrope
  • H. arborescens : Cherry Pie
  • H. curassavicum : Seaside Heliotrope
  • H. europaeum : European Turnsole
  • H. pannifolium : St Helena Heliotrope

[edit] External links