Heliotropium angiospermum

Heliotropium angiospermum, common name scorpion's tail or scorpion-tail, is a flowering plant in the Heliotropium genus and Boraginaceae (Borage) family. An annual or short-lived perennial^[1] it grows in Florida and Texas^[2] into Mexico^[3] as well as on various islands in arid lowlands.^[4] Its nectar is sought-out by butterflies^[2] and also provides food for bees and birds.^[2] The stems terminate in scorpioid inflorescences.^[3]

Heliotropium angiospermum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Heliotropium
Species:	H. angiospermum
Binomial name
Heliotropium angiospermum Murray

Close-up of scorpioid inflorescence

It is employed for medicinal uses on some Caribbean islands.^[2][5]

It can tolerate rocky or sandy soil and grows up to 3-feet high.^[1]

See also

• List of Heliotropium species
• List of flora of the Sonoran Desert Region by common name
• Scorpiurus muricatus, sometimes referred to as prickly scorpion's-tail
• Heliotropium andersonii, similar species with narrower leaves
• Heliotropium curassavicum, "monkey tail"

References

1. "Scorpion-tail". Florida's Wildflowers & Butterflies.
2. "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org.
3. Eason, Michael (2018). Wildflowers of Texas. North Adams: Timber Press, Incorporated. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-60469-862-6. OCLC 1022795434.
4. McMullen, Conley K. (2018). Flowering Plants of the Galápagos. Ithaca, NY. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-5017-2876-1. OCLC 1102799994.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
5. Dehgan, Bijan (2023). Garden plants taxonomy. Volume 2, Angiosperms (eudicots). Cham. p. 941. ISBN 978-3-031-11565-3. OCLC 1376018172.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)