Blue heliotrope
Heliotropium amplexicaule
family
Boraginaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Blue heliotrope, Clasping heliotrope, Creeping heliotrope, Heliotrope, Purpletop, Summer heliotrope, Turnsole, Violet heliotrope, Wild heliotrope, Wild verbena.
A low-growing herbaceous plant with numerous branched stems radiating from a central taproot. Its alternately arranged leaves are elongated, hairy, and have wavy margins. Its distinctive coiled flower clusters have numerous small (5-8 mm long) tubular flowers. These flowers are blue or purplish in colour with yellow throats and are arranged in two rows along one side of the flowering stem. The flowering stems elongate and straighten as the small, dark brown, warty 'seeds' begin to mature.
Impact
Impact
Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. Though it is mainly seen as a weed of roadsides, disturbed sites and pastures, it is also listed as a priority environmental weed in three Natural Resource Management regions. It displaces native species, particularly in overgrazed or otherwise disturbed areas, and prefers sandy soils.This species is currently of most concern in the inland regions of New South Wales, and is conservatively estimated to occupy more than 110,000 hectares in this state. Major infestations occur in areas receiving more than 500 mm of rainfall per year, although it is also established in low rainfall areas in the western districts of the state. Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) is listed as an environmental weed in some inland areas of this state (e.g. in the Hawkesbury region and the Namoi catchment) and has invaded conservation areas, particularly in the northern parts of the state.For example, in the Warrumbungle National Park, in Northern Plains region, blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) is dominant in the Central Valley section of the park. Populations also occur on grazing areas adjacent to the Pilliga Nature Reserve in this region. This species out-competes more palatable species grazed by native herbivores, and its dominance in certain areas is linked to excessive grazing pressure by heavy concentrations of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. Though it is mainly seen as a weed of roadsides, disturbed sites and pastures, it is also listed as a priority environmental weed in three Natural Resource Management regions. It displaces native species, particularly in overgrazed or otherwise disturbed areas, and prefers sandy soils.This species is currently of most concern in the inland regions of New South Wales, and is conservatively estimated to occupy more than 110,000 hectares in this state. Major infestations occur in areas receiving more than 500 mm of rainfall per year, although it is also established in low rainfall areas in the western districts of the state. Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) is listed as an environmental weed in some inland areas of this state (e.g. in the Hawkesbury region and the Namoi catchment) and has invaded conservation areas, particularly in the northern parts of the state.For example, in the Warrumbungle National Park, in Northern Plains region, blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) is dominant in the Central Valley section of the park. Populations also occur on grazing areas adjacent to the Pilliga Nature Reserve in this region. This species out-competes more palatable species grazed by native herbivores, and its dominance in certain areas is linked to excessive grazing pressure by heavy concentrations of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus).
