Echium vulgareL. - Viper's Bugloss
Scientific Description:
Biennial or monocarpic. Stem usually simple (branched if grazed or damaged?), 30−50 cm, sparsely to densely patent-setose. Leaves hispid with robust white setae; basal to 120 × 11 mm, linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblong, subacute, attenuate into short petiole; cauline shorter, narrowly lanceolate, sessile. Inflorescence oblong in outline and spike-like at first, cymes elongating markedly after anthesis. Calyx 5−6 mm at anthesis, accrescent to 10 mm in fruit. Corolla intensely blue, 14−18 mm, broadly infundibular, puberulous and with sparse setiform hairs on veins outside. Stamens usually all long-exserted; filaments blue to purplish. Style bifid for c. 1 mm. Nutlets c. 2.5 × 1.5 mm, with prominent dorsal and ventral keels and narrow acute beak, irregularly suborbiculate-reticulate.
Flowering time: May−September.
Habitat: Picea Link. and Abies Mill. forest, roadside banks, scrub, etc., s.l.−2440 m.
Reference:
Edmondson JR (1978). Echium vulgare L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 322.
Public Description:
Echium vulgare, common name “Viper's Bugloss” or “blueweed”, is native to southern and western Europe and Western Asia. It has been introduced to North America and is naturalised in parts of the continent, being listed as an invasive species in Washington. It is an erect, biennial or monocarpic perennial plant growing to 80 cm, with lance-shaped hairy leaves and dense cylindrical spikes of bell-shaped violet-blue flowers. The leaves are poisonous. The bristly hairs on the leaves and stems can cause severe dermatitis. However, there are studies on diuretic and demulcent effects and against chest diseases.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echium_vulgare, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bugvip85.html, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 3 (2015). http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Echium+vulgare, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 4 (2015). http://www.bizimbitkiler.org.tr/v2/turkce.php, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 5 (2017). https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/6298/i-Echium-vulgare-i/Details, Erişim Tarihi: 28.03.2017.
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.