Heliophila
(from helios, the sun, and phileo, to love; in reference to the plants growing in sunny situations). ORD. Cruciferae. A genus containing (according to Sonder) sixty species of annual herbs or sub-shrubs; but the number is considerably reduced by Bentham and Hooker. All are natives of South Africa. Racemes elongated. Leaves very variable. Stem round, branched. The annual species are the only sorts grown in our gardens; and these are of easy culture. Seeds should be sown in the open border, during March or April; or, for an earlier display, in March, in frames, and afterwards planted out. H. amplexicaulis (stem-clasping). fl. varying from white to purplish, small. June to September. l., lower ones opposite; upper ones alternate, cordate, stem-clasping, oblong, entire. h. 9in. 1774.
H. coronopifolia (buckhorn-leaved). fl. blue-violet, spreading. June to September. l. pinnate-parted; lobes linear, quite entire. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1778.
H. pilosa (hairy). fl. blue. June and July. l. hairy; lower ones lanceolate, pinnatifid; upper ones linear, quite entire. h. 6in. to 12in. 1820. (B. M. 2526, under name of H. stricta.)
H. p. incisa (incised). l. linear-cuneate, trifid at the point, rarely five-fid; lobes linear or acuminate. (B. M. 496, under name of H. arabioides.)