Anchusa leptophyllaRoem. & Schult. - Blue shower
Scientific Description:
Strigulose to canescent-strigulose biennials or perennials; stems erect, 40−70 cm, ± simple to much-branched. Leaves linear, 60−110 × 6−8(−18) mm, entire. Inflorescence sericeous to ± spreading-strigulose, elongating in fruit; bracts ovate-lanceolate, minute. Calyx 4−9 mm in flower, elongating in fruit, divided to 1/3–2/3 into obtuse lobes. Corolla usually bright blue with white throat, occasionally white to yellow; tube 6−10 mm, lobes 2−4 mm. Nutlets 2−3 × 2.5−4 mm, obliquely ovoid.
Flowering time: June-July.
Habitat: Rocky slopes, steppe, 800−3000 m.
subsp. leptophylla
Calyx 4−6(−7) mm in flower; corolla tube 6−8 mm. Calyx divided to c. 1/3, densely sericeous; stems branched only near base.
Reference:
Chamberlain DF (1978). Anchusa leptophylla Roem. & Schult., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 390.
Public Description:
Anchusa leptophylla, common name “blue shower”, is found in Bulgaria, Romania, South Russia and Türkiye on rocky slopes and steppes. Blue shower is an biennial or perennial herb up to 70 cm which has purple or blue flowers with a white eye, rarely white or yellow flowers. The flowers expanding to 1 cm can be seen in summer. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). http://vanherbaryum.yyu.edu.tr/flora/azortandir/anchusalele/index.htm /, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). http://www.bizimbitkiler.org.tr/v2/turkce.php/, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 3 (2015). http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/155424/#b/, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Körüklü ST (2012). Anchusa L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (edlr.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 223−224.