Vern.: ‘Purple Vipers Bugloss, Blue Weed’.

YASIN J. NASIR

A hairy branched biennial up to 50 cm tall. Basal leaves 30-120 x 12-15 mm, ovate; upper cauline leaves narrow lanceolate, with a ± cordate base. Corolla 15-20 mm long, blue or deep blue, occasionally white, sparsely hairy on the outside. Stamens 2, exserted.

Fl. Per.: April.

Type: Barrelier, Pl. Gall. Hisp. Ital. 145, t. 1025.1714 (Lectotype).

Distribution: Native to Europe; ornamental and weedy in many places.

Sparingly grown in gardens. Closely resembling Echium vulgare L., which may possibly occur (cultivated) here as well. The latter differs in the smaller flowers and upper cauline leaves which are not broad at the base.