Borago officinalis
Bourrache
Borage
Additional information
| Plant family | |
|---|---|
| Area | Provence Verte |
| Flower colour | blue |
| Flower size | 20-25 mm |
| Flowering months | February, March, April, May, June |
| Leaf type | Lanceolate, Elliptic |
| Height | 60 cm |
Description
A bristly, hairy annual, sometimes biennial, native to the Mediterranean area.
Dry grassy areas, roadsides, waste ground.
Flowers
The flowers are sky-blue, five-petalled with black antherupper fertile part of the stamen containing the pollen shaped to a point.
Leaves
Lanceolate leaf is lance-shaped: long and widest in the middle, Elliptic oval leaf. Basal leaves: oval, long, wider in the middle, pointed, with stalks, 3-11 cm long.
Stem leaves: stalkless, long, wider in the middle, pointed.
Fruits Seeds
Nut: 4 small brownish-black nuts hidden in the calyx.
Edible
Leaves and flowers: in moderation, contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that may cause liver damage or liver cancer.
Medical
Seeds: are safe to use. Seed oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acids used nutritionally and to regulate the hormonal system; also to treat high cholesterol and cardiovascular problems.
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