Heliotropium nanum

Heliotropium nanum Northr..

Common Names: White Pussley, Low Ashy Heliotrope

Family: Boragincaceae

Habit: Heliotropium nanum grows as a villous, mostly erect, branched, herbaceous, perennial, growing up to 20 cm in height. The leaves are arranged alternately, oblong/elliptic/lanceolate, to 6 mm in length with an acute leaf apex. The internodes not exposed and shorter than the leaf length with leaves often appressed to the stem forming a dense appearance.  All vegetation is densely pubescent.

The complete, perfect, slightly zygomorphic flowers are arranged in the axils of leaves. The calyx has 5 fused at the base, green, pubescent sepals. The corolla has 5 fused white petals with a yellow center, with one lobe slight larger than the others.  There are 5 stamens fused to the base of the corolla.  The ovary is superior with 4 locules. The fruit is a capsule.

Habitat: Heliotropium nanum grows in open flats and coastal sandy locations and along roadsides.

Distribution: Heliotropium nanum is endemic to the Lucayan Archipelago occurring throughout the islands.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Heliotropium nanum is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.