heliotrope (hē`lēətrōp') [Gr.,=sun-turning] or turnsole, name for any plant that turns to face the sun, especially members of the genus Heliotropium of the family Boraginaceae. The garden heliotrope is a valerian, and the winter heliotrope, or sweet coltsfoot, is a composite.
Any of about 250 species of tropical or temperate, mostly herbaceous, plants that make up the genus Heliotropium, in the borage family, found throughout the world. Included are many weedy species. The best known is garden heliotrope (H. arborescens), a shrubby perennial that bears fragrant, purple to white, flat-clustered, five-lobed flowers in coiled sprays, similar to forget-me-nots.
heliotrope
heliotrope [′hē·lē·ə‚trōp]
heliotrope
)
Garden heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens)
(credit: Walter Dawn)
heliotrope
1. any boraginaceous plant of the genus Heliotropium, esp the South American H. arborescens, cultivated for its small fragrant purple flowers
2. garden heliotrope a widely cultivated valerian, Valeriana officinalis, with clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers
3. any of various plants that turn towards the sun
4.
a. a bluish-violet to purple colour
b. (as adjective): a heliotrope dress
5. another name for bloodstone
heliotrope [′hē·lē·ə‚trōp]
(botany)
A plant whose flower or stem turns toward the sun.
(engineering)
An instrument that reflects the sun's rays over long distances; used in geodetic surveys.
(mineralogy)
heliotrope
symbol of lovers’ faithfulness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 174]
See : Faithfulness
heliotrope
effective if drunk with proper invocations. [Medieval Folklore: Boland, 43]
See : Invisibility
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|