Family Description
The bugloss family is a group of hairy dicotyledonous herbs and shrubs and consists of approximately 100 genera and 2000 species with worldwide distribution. Leaves are simple, usually with hispid hairs, and alternate arrangement. Flowers are 5-merous and borne in a terminal 1-sided inflorescence known as a scorpioid cyme. Colors are primarily in shades of blue, or sometimes yellow, and produced in the spring. The fruit consists of 4 nutlets.
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The most characteristic features of the family:
- simple, hairy leaves
- 5-merous, usually blue flowers borne in the 1-sided cyme
Plants in this family are somewhat difficult to grow; but if provided good drainage yet moist soils, it is possible. They are best grown in light shade or full sun. Propagation is primarily by seed or root cuttings. Seeds germinate best with temperatures in the 60-70°F range. Common pests associated with this family are rare, except for crown rot in poorly drained sites.
Important genera belonging to this family include: Anchusa, Borago, Bourreria, Brunnera, Buglossoides, Cordia, Cynoglossum, Echioides, Echium, Hackelia, Heliotropium, Lappula, Lindelofia, Lithodora, Lithospermum, Mattiastrum, Mertensia, Myosotis, Omphalodes, Onosma, Pentaglottis, Pulmonaria, Solenanthus and Symphytum.
Myostis sylvatica (left), Cynoglossum germanicum (right)
Representative Species
| * | Borago officinalis | Borage |
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