Specimen
Habitat
MP-0003 / 0024 â Boraginaceae
Heliotropium foertherianum Diane & Hilger
Monpanoki (JP)
A silver-haired coastal tree whose corky fruits cross oceans on the sea currents.
Distribution
Tropical Indo-Pacific coasts, from the western Indian Ocean through Southeast Asia to Pacific islands; the Ryukyu Archipelago lies near its northern limit.
Habitat
Sandy and rocky shores and the seaward margin of coastal forest, above the high-tide line.
Morphology
A shrub to small tree with a crooked trunk and spreading crown. Leaves are clustered towards the branch tips, obovate, and densely covered with soft, silvery silky hairs. Small white flowers are borne in coiled (scorpioid) cymes; the fruit is a corky drupe.
Botanical notes
The corky, buoyant fruit is dispersed by sea currents (hydrochory), which accounts for the wide oceanic range. The silvery indumentum reduces salt and heat stress on exposed shores. Formerly treated as Tournefortia argentea.
References
Taxonomy and distribution follow Plants of the World Online (Kew), YList (Yonekura & Kajita) and regional floras; CITES Species+ for trade status. Descriptions are provisional and are revised as specimens are verified.