192 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
PERUVIAN HELIOTROPE. 
DEVOTED ATTACHMENT. 
This flower has been confounded with the 
sunflower, though it is of a different genus, 
and totally unlike the latter. To both has been 
ascribed the property of turning towards the 
sun, and following his course round the horizon; 
a property not confined to these flowers, as 
there arc others that do the same in a greater or 
less degree. 
The blossoms of the Heliotrope form clusters 
of very small, delicate, fragrant flowers, generally 
of a faint purple colour, or white, sometimes 
red, and bluish white. It is, as its name implies, 
a native of Peru, where it was discovered by 
the celebrated Jussieu. While botanizing one 
day in the Cordilleras, he suddenly found him¬ 
self overpowered by an intoxicating perfume. 
He looked around, expecting to find some 
gaudy flower or other from which it proceeded, 
but could perceive nothing but some handsome 
