Heliotropium europaeum

Heliotropium europaeum

This is the first time I have come across this weed growing near the coast. It is normally found in southern inland New South Wales, northern Victoria and the southern parts of South Australia growing mainly in the summer months on fallow ground or amongst pasture grasses. It is a significant weed because it is poisonous to sheep and cattle, with leaf samples indicating the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids ( helitrine, lasiocarpine and 3 others). Grazing and consumption of the plant causes liver damage which may not manifest itself until the second year. Damage to the liver by the alkaloids leads to an abnormally high uptake of copper from the pasture. When the animals are stressed by say, sudden cold, droving or fright, the copper is suddenly released and they develop the haemolytic crisis of chronic copper poisoning; dropping dead due to kidney failure. Cattle are more susceptible than sheep. Nasty weed indeed.