Boraginaceae FAMILY

Heliotropium ramosissimum

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

No specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, but many members of this plant family (Boraginaceae) are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional use is generally completely safe. They are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many pyrrolizidine alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].

Botanical Description

Heliotropium ramosissimum is an ascending or procumbent, herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 50cm tall. The stem is much branched from a woody base[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and ink.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeAfrica - throughout N. Africa, south to Senegal, northern Nigera and Sudan, through the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan.

HabitatSandy wadis, on calcareous ridges, sometimes abundant in poor pastures[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].