ANCHUSA 



(From the Greek anchousa, the ancient name of the plant and also of a red dye, " alkanet," made from the roots) 



Boraginacecz 



32. Anchusa italica, var. *'OpaI" 

 English Names: Bugloss (from Greek, meaning ox tongue), Ox tongue, Alkanet. 



SOUTH EUROPE 



MID-MAY TO MID-JULY 



TRUMPET-SHAPED flowers about three quarters of an inch across, 

 of forget-me-not blue, in pyramidal spikes formed of many small 

 flower clusters on short leafy stems, carried on upright, much-branching, 

 leafy stalks three to six 

 feet high. The leaves are 

 rough and glossy, of a 

 long-pointed, oval shape, 

 sometimes two feet long 

 atthebottomoftheplant, 

 and become unsightly 

 after blooming. With- 

 out proper treatment the 

 Anchusa is only a rough, 

 straggling plant with 

 small blue blossoms; but 

 with proper treatment it 

 becomes a splendid, 

 bright blue pyramid, 

 comparable to the Lark- 

 spur in brilliance, and 

 blooming continuously 

 for two or three months 

 if not allowed to seed. 



For cultivation see 

 preceding page. 



Anchusas rarely give 

 more than two seasons of 

 bloom. They should be 

 cut to the ground after 

 blossoming, fertilized and 

 liberally watered. Propagate by root, cutting (see preceding page), or 

 more slowly, by seed. 



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