2o6 FLOWERS OF WASTE PLACES, ETC. 



Viper's Bugloss (Fchium vul^are, L.) 



This plant is i'ouiul in tin: Temperate Northern Zone in Europe, 

 N. Africa, and W. Siberia, and has been introduced in N. America. 

 There is no trace of it in any early deposits. In Great Britain it is 

 not found in 1 hints, Cardigan, 1. of Man, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, 

 Westerness, Main Argyle, Dumbarton, (aniin-, X. Ebudes (or only 

 in Clyde Lslands, and IVIid Ebudes in W. llighlands). Sutherland, 

 ( )rkneys. Shetlands, but elsewhere general!). It is an alien or colonist 

 in .St:()iland. 



Viper's Bugloss is essentially a [)lani of cultivated ground or of 

 waste ground. It occurs, though rarely, in woods, where it is onK an 

 escape from these habitats. It is associated with Mayweed, Worm- 

 wood, Chicory, Mullein, Yellow and Creeping Toad FIa.\, and many 

 other casuals and aliens. 



It is an erect plant with a very softly-hairy, wart-covered stem, 

 armed with pricklv bristles, with narrow, lance-shaped, stiffly-hairy 

 stem -leaves, which are stalkless. narrow below, with a single rib. 



The name Bugloss, from twi Cireek words, is gi\t-n in reference 

 to the roughness of the stem and leaves, like an ox's tongue. I he 

 flowers are like Lungwort, pink at first, then blue, and so variegated. 

 They are borne on four or more lateral, scorpioid cymes, and all turned 

 one way. The calyx is longer than the tube of the corolla, as are 

 also the projecting stamens. The cymes are bent back. I he nutlets 

 are angular and rough. 



The plant is 2 ft. high. It flowers in July and August. X'iper's 

 Bugloss is a herbaceous biennial plant increased from seeds. 



The flowers are conspicuous. Honey is accessible to many different 

 insects. The flower is funnel-shaped, tubular, and is narrower below, 

 inclined obliquely upwards, which guides the visiting insects. There are 

 5 stamens, the lower part adhering to the corolla, one remaining in 

 the tube dividing it into two, while 4 are iirojecting and form a landing- 

 stage for insects, which tkist their alulomcn with the pollen, the llowcrs 

 being proterandrous, turning tlieir pollen-covered side upwards. The 

 stigma is small at first, less than the tube, but becomes longer than the 

 anthers, projecting 10 mm. beyond the tube, being divided into two 

 short branches at the end. The honey is secreted by the fleshy base 

 of the ovary. The mouth of the corolla, where the anthers lie tree, is 

 large enough for bees to insert their heads, and for small bumble bees 

 to insert more than half their bodies, .some entering' bodilv. 



