Scientific Name
Heliotropium spp.
Common Name
Heliotrope

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Boraginaceae
Plant Description
Annual or perennial herb; leaves alternate, simple; flowers small, 5-parted, blue, purple, or white, on a slender, coiled, stem.
Origin
Tropical and temporate America, Europe.
Distribution
Piedmont, Coastal Plain.
Where Found
Forest or natural areas in wet areas; weedy in disturbed areas; landscape cultivated as herbaceous perennial.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
All parts, used for making herbal teas.
Symptoms
Digestive upset and liver damage.
Toxic Principle
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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