Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope or Indian turnsole, is an annual, hirsute plant. It has a curved arrangement of small flowers and velvety broad green leaves.
Description
Indian heliotrope is an annual, erect, branched plant that can grow to a height of about . It has a hairy stem, bearing alternating ovate to oblong-ovate leaves. It has small white or purple flowers with a green calyx; five stamens borne on a corolla tube; a terminal style; and a four-lobed ovary. ==Distribution and habitat==
Distribution and habitat
The plant is native to Asia. It is a common weed in waste places and settled areas. ==Toxicity==
In the Philippines, the plant is chiefly used as a traditional medicine. The extracted juice from the pounded leaves of the plants is used on wounds, skin ulcers and furuncles. The juice is also used as an eye drop for conjunctivitis. The pounded leaves are used as poultice. It is widely used in native medicine in Tamil Nadu, India. ==References==