Heliotropium

• All Species Accounts

Heliotropium notes

First Draft

Overview

There are 17 taxa of Heliotropium in Turkey generally, of which you will expect to encounter 4 in Antalya.

Superficially some white-flowered Myosotis (Forget-me-nots) could be confused with them.

Flowers and fruiting calyxes should always be opened to reveal the anthers and the fruits (usually 4 nutlets looking like a nut). Calyx measurements are from calyx base to calyx lobe tips. Flower measurements are along flower length after removal.

Antalya Species

Flower Faces

Features to note when looking face on into the flowers and their throat (requires a clearish photo)

hirsutissimum - hairy folds with uppermost appendages, vertically on the throat, jut out within the mouth, which do not continue onto the flower lobes; no anthers visible in the mouth (they are small at the distant bottom of the flower). The yellow centre of the flower can spread quite widely, as much as halfway onto the spreading flower lobes.

suaveolens - sharpish folds vertically in the throat tend to continue onto the flower lobes; the mouth itself is dark because there are no anthers visible (they are small at the distant bottom of the flower). The yellow centre of the flower is more moderate than hirsutissimum, spreading only slightly onto the spreading flower lobes.

dolosum - anther tips are visible in the throat, not joined to the flower sides, because the anthers are very large and reach to near the throat opening.

supinum - mature flowers are small (check for flowers as close to fruiting as possible).

Flower sides and plant form

hirsutissimum - calyx lobes are long and narrow and on fruiting become longer than the fruit (the fruit is hidden) (compare suaveolens) and finally with the fruit fallen tend to bend outward and open up; the whole fruiting inflorescence lengthens a long way, with the calyxes well-spaced; the plant tends to grow large and chaotic; most hairs are projecting and moderately fine, especially on the calyx.

dolosum - calyx lobes on fruiting bend in and clasp the fruit, the lobes having wide bases but with enough gap to only half obscure the fruit within, and finally with the fruit fallen tend to be left as open cups; the plant is more orderly than hirsutissimum and with hairs mostly appressed.

suaveolens - calyx lobes somewhat like hirsutissimum but the plant is much neater and though it has projecting hairs they tend to be shorter and coarser; the whole fruiting inflorescence though long tends to stay quite congested, with a rather fat worm-like appearance. The flower has a pleasant smell (hence its name).

supinum - the calyx tends to clasp the fruit mostly hiding it, and unlike all the other species when opened out there is a single large nut rather than a four-part one. The plant spreads mostly sideways near the ground level.

More info and Turkish Heliotropium generally

• See the draft PDF for full information

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