Tournefortia gnaphalodes
Tournefortia gnaphalodes (L.) Roem. & Schult.
Tournefortia gnaphalodes, also known as sea lavender, bay lavender, sea rosemary, iodine bush, or beach heliotrope, is a flowering plant in the Heliotropiaceae family. It is native to Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, northeastern Colombia, and Venezuela. This semi-succulent evergreen shrub grows up to 1.5 m tall and is commonly found in coastal regions. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental and used for dune stabilization.
Description
Tournefortia gnaphalodes is a shrub species native to the coastal regions of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It is a hardy, semi-succulent plant that thrives in sandy soils and saline environments. The plant is often used in landscaping and ecological restoration due to its ability to stabilize dunes and its ornamental value. It has small, aromatic leaves and produces clusters of small, white or lavender flowers. The species was first described in 1819 and is part of the genus Tournefortia, which includes several other shrubs with similar ecological adaptations.
Synonyms
Messerschmidia gnaphalodesMallotonia gnaphalodesArgusia gnaphalodesHeliotropium gnaphalodes