Echium vulgare explained

Echium vulgare, known as viper's bugloss and blueweed,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. It is native to most of Europe and western and central Asia[2] and it occurs as an introduced species in north-eastern North America, south-western South America and the South and North Island of New Zealand.[1] [3] The plant root was used in ancient times as a treatment for snake or viper bites.[4] If eaten, the plant is toxic to horses and cattle through the accumulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the liver.[5] [6]

Description

It is a biennial or monocarpic perennial plant growing to 30cm–80cmcm (10inches–30inchescm) tall, with rough, hairy, oblanceolate leaves.[7] The flowers start pink and turn vivid blue, and are 15mm20mm in a branched spike, with all the stamens protruding. The pollen is blue[8] but the filaments of the stamens remain red, contrasting against the blue flowers. It flowers between May and September in the Northern Hemisphere. The Latin specific epithet vulgare means common.

Distribution

It is native to Europe and temperate Asia. It has been introduced to Chile,[9] New Zealand[10] and North America, where it is naturalised in parts of the continent including northern Michigan, being listed as an invasive species in Washington.[11] It is found in dry, calcareous grassland and heaths, bare and waste places, along railways and roadsides and on coastal cliffs, sand dunes and shingle.[12]

Cultivation

E. vulgare is cultivated as an ornamental plant, and numerous cultivars have been developed. The cultivar 'Blue Bedder' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[13] [14]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 203.
  2. Flora Europaea: Echium vulgare
  3. Web site: Plants of the World Online. Echium vulgare L.. Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. 18 December 2022.
  4. Web site: Echium vulgare - Plant Finder . www.missouribotanicalgarden.org . Missouri Botanical Garden . 19 September 2020.
  5. Web site: Guide to Poisonous Plants – College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences . csuvth.colostate.edu . Colorado State University . 19 September 2020.
  6. Klemow . Kenneth M. . Clements . David R. . Threadgill . Paul F. . Cavers . Paul B. . The biology of Canadian weeds. 116. Echium vulgare L. . Canadian Journal of Plant Science . 1 January 2002 . 82 . 1 . 235–248 . 10.4141/P01-058.
  7. Web site: Graves. Melissa. Mangold. Jane. Jacobs. Jim. Biology, Ecology and Management of Blueweed. store.msuextension.org. Montana State University. 22 October 2016.
  8. Book: Dorothy Hodges. The pollen loads of the honeybee. 1952. Bee Research Association Ltd., London.
  9. Web site: Description and images of Echium vulgare (Hierba azul, Viborera, Ortiguilla), a native Chilean plant, provided by the supplier of native exotic Chilean seeds, Chileflora.com . 2022-11-21 . www.chileflora.com.
  10. Web site: Echium vulgare. 2020-11-28. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. en.
  11. Web site: Common viper's bugloss: Echium vulgare (Lamiales: Boraginaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. www.invasiveplantatlas.org. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. 22 October 2016.
  12. Fitter, R. & A. (1974). The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins.
  13. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Echium vulgare 'Blue Bedder' . 12 January 2018.
  14. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 35 . Royal Horticultural Society . 24 January 2018.

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