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Heliotropium amplexicaule

Heliotropium amplexicaule

Vahl
Borraja Cimarroma

Family: Boraginaceae
Order: Boraginales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Phylum / Division: Magnoliophyta
Kingdom: Plantae

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Records from Argentina


Description


Heliotropium amplexicaule is a species of heliotrope known by several common names, including clasping heliotrope, blue heliotrope, and summer heliotrope. It is native to South America, especially Argentina, but it is known on several other continents where it is an introduced species, and in some areas such as eastern Australia, a noxious weed.

It was first described in 1794 by Martin Vahl.

This is a clumpy perennial herb growing branching, hairy stems to about in maximum height. It has abundant foliage of oblong wavy-edged green leaves four to nine centimeters long. The curving terminal spike inflorescences hold several tiny bright purple flowers with rounded lobes and tubular yellow throats. The fruits are paired rough-surfaced nutlets.

Biological pest control is being investigated for reducing the spread of this plant in New South Wales and surrounding areas in Australia. The blue heliotrope leaf beetle, Deuterocampta quadrijuga, has shown promise, as has the flea beetle now called blue heliotrope flea beetle (Longitarsus spp.).

Toxicity: Heliotropium amplexicaule contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and is poisonous. This plant competes with desirable pastures and causes toxicity to stock.

Source: Wikipedia, article Heliotropium amplexicaule. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 17/07/2026.





Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 688127
♂ ♀
  Adult

Reserva Natural del Pilar
Buenos Aires
Argentina
01/06/2007
Marcos Garberoglio
Foto
Photography ID: 674906
  Adult

San José
Entre Ríos
Argentina
02/22/2026
Daniel Osvaldo Fernández
Foto
Photography ID: 671185
♂ ♀
  Adult

Salta (Capital)
Salta
Argentina
02/01/2026
Eduardo Vicente Fumarola
Foto
Photography ID: 671184
♂ ♀
  Adult

Salta (Capital)
Salta
Argentina
02/01/2026
Eduardo Vicente Fumarola
Foto
Photography ID: 671183
♂ ♀
  Adult

Salta (Capital)
Salta
Argentina
02/01/2026
Eduardo Vicente Fumarola
Foto
Photography ID: 664894
♂ ♀
  Adult

Departamento La Caldera
Salta
Argentina
12/07/2025
Eduardo Vicente Fumarola
Foto
Photography ID: 661118
  Adult

Paraje El Quebracho
Entre Ríos
Argentina
11/08/2025
Peter Vidana
Foto
Photography ID: 632047
  Adult

Dto Lihuel Calel
La Pampa
Argentina
04/17/2025
Hugo Alberto Valderrey



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Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
244306925/02/2026ArgentinaCiudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresReserva Ecológica Ciudad Universitaria - Costanera Norte (RECU-CN)Marcos Garberoglio
243849522/02/2026ArgentinaEntre RíosSan Jose, San JoséDaniel Osvaldo Fernández
243423015/02/2026ArgentinaLa PampaParque Nacional Lihué Calel, Dto Lihuel CalelHugo Alberto Valderrey
244878702/02/202610:26ArgentinaSanta FeReserva Ecológica Ciudad Universitaria UNL (RECU), Santa Fe1Gustavo Fernando Durán
242748501/02/2026ArgentinaSaltaParque del bicentenario, Salta (Capital)Eduardo Vicente Fumarola
240512907/12/2025ArgentinaSaltaMunicipio de Vaqueros, Lesser, Detrás de la Escuela Madre Tierra, Departamento La CalderaEduardo Vicente Fumarola
239330508/11/2025ArgentinaEntre RíosBalneario Arroyo Feliciano, Paraje El QuebrachoPeter Vidana
239250108/11/2025ArgentinaEntre RíosBalneario Arroyo Feliciano, Paraje El QuebrachoGaston Lisandro Gabinetti
227917817/04/2025ArgentinaLa PampaParque Nacional Lihué Calel, Dto Lihuel CalelHugo Alberto Valderrey
227009004/03/2025ArgentinaBuenos AiresParque Nacional Ciervo de los PantanosPablo Richter
Page 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Heliotropium amplexicaule – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 02/10/2026.