Heliotropium keralense

Heliotropium keralense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Heliotropiaceae
Genus: Heliotropium
Species:
H. keralense
Binomial name
Heliotropium keralense
Sivar. & Manilal

Heliotropium keralense is a small erect herb with a pubescent stem, ovate leaves and white flowers.[1]

Distribution

This species is native to South India, occurring in Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts) and Kerala (Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kottayam, and Alappuzha districts).[2]

Uses

A paste made from the leaves is traditionally applied to treat scorpion stings.[3]

References

  1. โ†‘ Jose, T. and Antony, V.T., 2021. Heliotropium indicum L. and Heliotropium keralense Sivar. & Manilal, J.: DNA Barcoding Studies for Species Identity. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 10(1), pp.pp-116.
  2. โ†‘ Sankara Rao, K., Raja K Swamy, Deepak Kumar, Arun Singh R. and K. Gopalakrishna Bhat (2019). Flora of Peninsular India. http://peninsula.ces.iisc.ac.in/plants.php?name=Heliotropium keralense. Downloaded on 2 October 2025.
  3. โ†‘ Silja, V.P., Varma, K.S. and Mohanan, K.V., 2008. Ethnomedicinal plant knowledge of the Mullu kuruma tribe of Wayanad district, Kerala. Indian journal of Traditional knowledge, 7(4), pp.604-612.