Octopus bush, Tree heliotrope
Argusia argentea

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A small tree or compact rounded shrub. It grows 1.5-8 m high. It has fine silky hairs. The bark is rough and grey with a chequered pattern. The limbs have a zig zag shape. The leaves are soft and fleshy. They are crowded towards the ends of branches. The leaves are oval or spoon shaped. They taper towards the base. They have a silky covering. The leaf is 9.5-20 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. The flowers are small and white. They are 0.1-0.2 cm across and without stalks. They are clustered into crowded flower arrangements towards the ends of branches. These are 10 cm across. The fruit are very small, smooth, fleshy and berry like. They are 0.2-0.3 cm across and green but turn black when ripe.

There are 2 Argusia species. The leaves are also used in medicine. It is an unresolved name in The Plant List.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally along the beach. They grow on sand dunes just above high tide. It is common on coral islands. It has a high tolerance of salty soils. It needs to grow in full sun.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, East Africa, Fiji, Hawaii, India, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Rotuma, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

Young leaves are edible raw or cooked. They have a parsley like flavour.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or by cuttings.

It is slow growing. Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year.

Its other names

Local names

Bubus, Sumi, Tahinu

Synonyms

Messerchmidia argentea (L.) I.M. Johnson; Tournefortia argentea L.;