ECHIUML. - VIPER'S-BUGLOSS
Scientific Description:
Annual to perennial hispid-setose herbs. Basal leaves usually forming a rosette, petiolate, often shrivelled at anthesis; cauline ± numerous, upper sessile and often slightly amplexicaul. Inflorescence of numerous bracteate cymes, spike-like, paniculate or thyrsoid. Calyx lobed ± to base, accrescent in fruit. Corolla ± zygomorphic, narrowly to broadly infundibular or trumpet-shaped, bluish, purplish, reddish, yellowish or whitish; tube lacking faucal appendages, with tufts of hairs or an annulus at base; limb ± markedly oblique. Stamens included or at least some exserted; filaments inserted unequally in tube. Style ± entire or minutely bilobed to bifid. Nutlets 4, ovoid, ovoid-trigonal, oblong-bipyramidal or subglobose, with broad attachment scar, beak erect or incurved, ± laterally compressed, smooth or variously rugose, tuberculate, scrobiculate and reticulate.
Reference:
Edmondson JR (1978). Echium L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 318.
Public Description:
Echium is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as “viper's-bugloss” and native to North Africa, mainland Europe and the Macaronesian islands where it reaches its maximum diversity. There are approximately 67 species in the world and 8 species (8 taxa) in Türkiye. The leaves are poisonous. No cases of poisoning have ever been recorded for this plant. The bristly hairs on the leaves and stems can cause severe dermatitis. Many species are used as ornamental and garden plants and may be found in suitable climates throughout the world. The seed oil from “Paterson's curse, (Echium plantagineum L.)” contains some chemicals, making it valuable in cosmetic and skin care applications, as an alternative to fish oils.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echium, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Echium, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 3 (2015). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Boraginaceae/Echium/, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Körüklü ST (2012). Echium L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 227.
