Heliotropium arboreum
(Blanco) Mabb.
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Cheongweei Gan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cheongweei Gan
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Zydrunas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Zydrunas
Summary
Source: WikipediaHeliotropium arboreum is a species of flowering plant in the family Heliotropiaceae. It is native to tropical Asia including southern China, Madagascar, northern Australia, and most of the atolls and high islands of Micronesia and Polynesia. Common names include velvetleaf soldierbush, tree heliotrope, veloutier, and octopus bush. It is a shrub or small tree typical of littoral zones reaching a height of 3.6 m (12 ft), with a spread of about 5 m (16 ft).
Description
A shrub or tree. This name and the synonym (Argusia argentea) seem to be confused.
This description is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
Octopus bush is used in many Pacific islands as a traditional medicine to treat ciguatera fish poisoning, which is caused by powerful ciguatoxins produced by microscopic Gambierdiscus algae. Scientists from the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) and the Louis Malarde Institute in French Polynesia and Pasteur Institute in New Caledonia are researching the plant chemistry and believe that senescent leaves contain rosmarinic acid and derivatives, which are known for its antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers think that rosmarinic acid removes the ciguatoxins from their sites of action, as well as being an anti-inflammatory agent.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows on the seashore.
Where It Grows
Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia,
Synonyms
References (1)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
