Vanilla flower

Vanilla flower
Vanilla flower ( Heliotropium arborescens )
Systematics
Nuclear eudicotyledons Asterids Euasterids I Family : Boraginaceae (Boraginaceae) Genre : Solstices ( heliotropium ) Type : Vanilla flower
Scientific name
Heliotropium arborescens
L.

Close up of the flowers

The vanilla flower ( Heliotropium arborescens ), also known as heliotrope or solstice , is a species from the Boraginaceae family ( borage family ).

description

Vanilla flowers are evergreen shrubs . The plant grows up to 80 cm high and 100 cm wide, the leaves are dark green and wrinkled. From early summer until well into autumn, small purple to lavender blue, strong and pleasantly scented flowers appear . Like many predatory leaves, the vanilla flower also contains poisonous pyrrolizidine alkaloids in addition to fragrances .

Distribution area

The vanilla flower originally comes from the Peruvian Andes .

use

The vanilla flower is a popular bedding and balcony plant. However, since it is not hardy, it is usually cultivated as an annual plant, although it is actually perennial. Through breeding efforts, there are some varieties that differ in leaf color ('Lord Robert' dark violet green, 'Aurea' golden yellow) or flower color ('Alba' white).

proof

• Gordon Cheers (Ed.): Botanica. The ABC of plants. 10,000 species in text and images . Könemann, Königswinter 2003, ISBN 3-8331-1600-5 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig: Lexicon of medicinal plants and drugs. 2 volumes. area Verlag, Erftstadt 2005, ISBN 3-89996-682-1 .

Web links

Commons : Heliotropium arborescens  - album with pictures, videos and audio files