Argusia argentea (L.f.) Heine

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Photo: Ton Rulkens
Praia de Tofinho, Inhambane, Mozambique

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Synonyms:	Messerschmidia argentea (L.f.) I.M. Johnst. Tournefortia argentea L.f.
Common names:	Octopus bush (English) Tree heliotrope (English) Velvet soldierbush (English)
Frequency:	Locally common
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect shrub or small tree to 4 m; branches bearing prominent leaf scars. Leaves ± sessile, spirally arranged, crowded near the apices, 7-22 × 4-11 cm, ovate or obovate, sometimes rhombic, greyish and velvety; apex rounded. Inflorescence a terminal panicle or corymb of numerous flowers. Corolla lobes c. 1 mm long, white. Fruit c. 5 × 7 mm, subspherical, glabrous.
Notes:	This species has recently been transferred into the genus Heliotropium as H. foertherianum Diane & Hilger
Derivation of specific name:	argentea: silvery; possibly referring to the colour of the leaves
Habitat:	On rocky coral beaches
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	In Africa, occurring in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique and in the islands of the Indian Ocean; widespread elsewhere in the tropics.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,GI
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 23 July 2014
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 819. (Includes a picture). Martins, E.S. (1990). Boraginaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(4) Pages 81 - 82. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Argusia argentea:

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Argusia argentea
African Plant Database: Argusia argentea
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Argusia argentea
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Argusia argentea
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Argusia argentea
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Argusia argentea
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Argusia argentea
JSTOR Plant Science: Argusia argentea
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Argusia argentea
Plants of the World Online: Argusia argentea
Tropicos: Argusia argentea
Wikipedia: Argusia argentea