Echium hypertropicum explained

Echium hypertropicum is a species of flowering plants of the family Boraginaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde.^[1] It is listed as an endangered plant by the IUCN.^[2]

Its local name is língua-de-vaca (cow tongue), a name that may also refer to the related species Echium vulcanorum and Echium stenosiphon.^[3] The oil of its seeds contains γ-linolenic acid, and is used for medicinal and dietary purposes.^[4]

Description

The plant can reach 2 m height. Its leaves are lance-shaped and can be up to 20 cm long. Its flowers are whitish, purplish or bluish.^[3] Old plants higher than 0.5–1 m are extremely rare today.^[2]

Distribution and ecology

Echium hypertropicum occurs on the islands of Santiago and Brava.^[1] It mainly occurs in sub-humid and humid zones.

Further reading

• Book: Schmidt, Johann Anton. Beiträge zur Flora der Cap Verdischen Inseln. 1852. 66.
• The endemic vascular plants of the Cape Verde Islands, W Africa, Sommerfeltia 24, 1997, C. Brochmann, Ø. H. Rustan, W. Lobin & N. Kilian, ISSN 0800-6865,

Notes and References

1. Oromí, Martín, Zurita & Cabrera, 2005 : Lista preliminar de especies silvestres de Cabo Verde: Hongos, Plantas y Animales Terrestres. Gobierno de Canarias, Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación Territorial, p. 41
2. Romeiras . Maria M. . Cotrim . Helena C. . Duarte . Maria C. . Pais . Maria S. . 2007 . Genetic diversity of three endangered species of Echium L. (Boraginaceae) endemic to Cape Verde Islands . Biodiversity and Conservation . 16 . 547–566 . Springer . 10.1007/s10531-006-6734-0 .
3. http://www.caboverde.com/nature/plan-18.jpg Plantas endémicas e arvores indígenas de Cabo Verde
4. Web site: Gomes. Alda Roque. Vasconcelos. Teresa. Almeida. Helena Guimarães de. Plantas na medicina tradicional de Cabo Verde. Traditional Medicinal Plants in Cape Verde. Plantas Medicinais e Fitoterapêuticas nos Trópicos, IICT/CCCM. 7. pt. 31 October 2008. 24 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170329135958/http://www2.iict.pt/archive/doc/MH_Almeida_wrkshp_plts_medic.pdf. 29 March 2017. dead.