Indian Turnsole

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Eye Bright
• Indian heliotrope
• turnsole
• Hatisur
• Indian String-of-Stars

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Heliotropium cordifolium
• Heliotropium horminifolium
• Eliopia riparia
• Eliopia serrata
• Tiaridium indicum var. mexicanum
• Tiaridium velutinum
• Tiaridium anisophyllum
• Tiaridium indicum
• Heliophytum indicum
• Heliophytum foetidum
• Heliophytum velutinum
• Heliotropium africanum
• Heliotropium anisophyllum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Heliotropium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific presence within the region of West Tropical Africa. Its documented range includes the country of Benin, where it can be found growing in native habitats. Furthermore, the species is distributed across Burkina and the Gambia. It also extends its geographical reach into Ghana. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant includes the nation of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Heliotropium indicum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a wide range of topographical settings. It thrives across a vast array of habitats, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), Campinarana, high-altitude fields (Campo de Altitude), and floodplain fields (Campo de Várzea). Its presence is also noted in various forest types, such as the Cerrado (latu sensu), Floodplain Forest (Floresta de Várzea), Seasonal Deciduous Forest (Floresta Estacional Decidual), Evergreen Seasonal Forest (Floresta Estacional Perenifólia), Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), Ombrophilous Forest (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial), and other forest formations. This species exhibits significant altitudinal flexibility, inhabiting regions from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1900 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 414 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

414 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campinarana, Campo de Altitude, Campo de Várzea, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta O

Life history

The life history of Heliotropium indicum is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Functionally, it operates as a therophyte, meaning it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by persisting as a seed, with the mature vegetative structure dying back completely at the end of its cycle. This life form is further categorized under the broader biological classification of a therophyte, ensuring its ability to colonize disturbed habitats and ephemeral environments through rapid growth and prolific seed dispersal.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Heliotropium indicum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, operating as an independent organism. In terms of its physical stature, the plant exhibits a variable height, ranging from a minimum of 0 m up to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average height of approximately 0.675 m. Regarding its habitat and ecological positioning, it is a terrestrial species, classified neither as an aquatic nor a semiaquatic plant, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.675 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Heliotropium indicum is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic processes related to nutrient acquisition. The leaf structure exhibits significant variability in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 6 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 4 cm, resulting in a mean width of 3 cm. In terms of its nitrogen metabolism, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Heliotropium indicum is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects to ensure successful fertilization. The plant produces inflorescences that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.15 m. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds characterized by a highly consistent mass of 0.00384 g, as both the minimum, maximum, and mean seed mass values are recorded at this exact measurement. For the dissemination of these seeds, the species utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water to transport its offspring to new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.00384 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Heliotropium indicum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. F1000Research
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Stem

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Chemicals

Heliotropium indicum has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-formylpyrrolizidine, Cardiac Glycosides, DPPH, Flavonoids, Homospermidine.

1-formylpyrrolizidine

1. The Plant cell

Cardiac Glycosides

1. F1000Research

DPPH

1. PeerJ

Flavonoids

1. F1000Research

Homospermidine

1. The Plant cell

INDICINE

1. Lloydia

Indicine N-oxide

1. Lloydia

Tannins

1. F1000Research

polyphenols

1. F1000Research

Activities

Heliotropium indicum has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, Antitumor.

Cytotoxic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Antioxidant

1. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Antitumor

1. Lloydia

Medicinal Uses

Heliotropium indicum has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diarrhea, bacterial infections, fever, gastric ulcers, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations