There are many kinds of Heliotrope, widely distributed in temperate
and tropical regions; ours have small, white or blue flowers, in
coiled spikes; the corolla salver-form or funnel-form, without crests
or hairs; the stamens not protruding, the filaments short or none,
the anthers sometimes joined by their pointed tips; the ovary not
four-lobed, but sometimes grooved, with a short style, the stigma
cone-shaped or round.
[Sidenote: =Sea-side Heliotrope, Chinese Pusley=
_Heliotròpium Curassávicum_
=White
Summer, autumn
Cal., Oreg., etc.=]
This is not a pretty plant and is rather insignificant because of
its dull coloring. It forms low, branching, straggling clumps, with
thickish stems and leaves, which are succulent and perfectly smooth,
with a "bloom," and the flowers are small, the corolla white or pale
lilac, with a yellow "eye" which changes to purple, forming crowded
coiled spikes, mostly in pairs, without bracts. The fruit consists of
four nutlets. This is widely distributed, in moist, salty or alkaline
places, growing also in the East and in South America and the Old World.
There are several kinds of Oreocarya, natives of western North America
and Mexico, coarse, hairy, perennial or biennial herbs, with thick
woody roots; the leaves narrow, alternate or from the root; the flowers
small, mostly white, in clusters, with a funnel-form or salver-form
corolla, usually with crests and folds in the throat; the stamens
not protruding; the style usually short. The name is from the Greek,
meaning "mountain-nut," which does not seem very appropriate.
[Sidenote: =Oreocarya=
_Oreocàrya multicàulis_
=White
Spring
Ariz., Utah, etc.=]
A rather pretty plant, about six inches tall, not rough and harsh like
most kinds of Oreocarya, for the pale grayish-green stem and leaves
are covered with white down. The flowers are quite pretty, about
three-eighths of an inch across, with white corollas, with yellow
crests in the throat. This is found as far east as southern Colorado
and New Mexico. _O. setosíssima_ is quite tall, growing in the Grand
Canyon, and has a large cluster of small white flowers and is harsh and
hairy all over, covered with such long stiff white hairs as to make it
conspicuous and very unpleasant to touch.
[Illustration: Chinese Pusley--Heliotropium Curassavicum.