Heliotropium steudneri (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Medicinal

Heliotropium steudneri Vatke

Protologue: Öst. Bot. Zeitschr. 25: 167 (1875).

Family: Boraginaceae

Origin and geographic distribution

Heliotropium steudneri is native of East and southern Africa, from Ethiopia south to Namibia and South Africa.

Uses

In Tanzania the leaf juice is applied to cuts to stop bleeding and to prevent infection. In Namibia plants are dipped in boiling water and then squeezed over bruises. The Maasai people in Kenya and Tanzania apply drops of leaf juice to the eyes of their cattle to cure conjunctivitis.

Properties

The pyrrolizidine alkaloid lycopsamine has been isolated from the leaves of Heliotropium steudneri. As its uses are similar to those of some better studied species of the genus such as Heliotropium indicum L. and Heliotropium ovalifolium Forssk., pyrrolizidine alkaloids are probably responsible for the alleged medicinal properties. Several butterfly species depend on plants to provide them with lycopsamine as a precursor of the pheromone danaidone. The flowers have a bad smell which is believed to help pollination by flies.

Description

Perennial, erect or spreading herb or subshrub up to 1 m tall, with woody rootstock; stem branched, densely and persistently hairy. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules absent; petiole absent or short, up to 1 cm long; blade narrowly elliptical to elliptical-lanceolate or oblong, 1–9 (–13) cm × 0.5–2.5(–3.2) cm; base cuneate, apex acute, margin crenulate, frequently bullate above with venation impressed. Inflorescence a terminal cyme, mostly simple, sometimes 2– 3-branched, short and scorpioid at first, extending up to 37 cm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, sessile; calyx 2.5–5.5 mm long, lobed almost to base, densely pubescent; corolla white or creamy-yellow, 4–6 mm long, tube glabrous and narrow at base, funnel-shaped and pubescent above, lobes oblong to obovate-oblong, up to 3 mm × 2 mm. Fruit depressed ovoid, splitting into 2 nutlets.

Ecology

Heliotropium steudneri is found in open localities, grassland and dry bushland on dry, poor, often sandy soil at 100–1350 m altitude.

Genetic resources

Heliotropium steudneri is fairly widespread and common and therefore not in danger of genetic erosion.

Prospects

The external uses of Heliotropium steudneri in traditional medicine deserve attention by researchers.

Major references

• Baerts, M. & Lehmann, J., 2002. Heliotropium steudneri. [Internet]. Prelude Medicinal Plants Database. Metafro-Infosys, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium http://www.metafro.be/ prelude/view_plant?pi=06760 April 2004.

• Martins, E.S. & Brummitt, R.K., 1990. Boraginaceae. In: Launert, E. & Pope, G.V. (Editors). Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 7, part 4. Flora Zambesiaca Managing Committee, London, United Kingdom. pp. 59–110.

• Meinwald, J., 2000. Sex, drugs and violence in the world of insects. [Internet] Science on the Frontiers. Research Corporation, Tucson, United States. http://rescorp.org/ Uploads/science.frontier.pdf. April 2004.

• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.

• Verdcourt, B., 1991. Boraginaceae. In: Polhill, R.M. (Editor). Flora of Tropical East Africa. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 125 pp.

Other references

• Burkill, H.M., 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 960 pp.

• Imamura, K., 2001. Water in the desert: rituals and vital power among the Central Kalahari hunter-gatherers. African Study Monographs, Supplement 27: 125–163.

Author(s)

• C.H. Bosch, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Bosch, C.H., 2006. Heliotropium steudneri Vatke. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 23 April 2026.

• See the Prota4U database.