84 BORAGE. 



The flowers are large and disposed in terminal drooping ra- 

 cemes, on long peduncles. The calyx is divided into five deep, 

 linear-lanceolate, persistent segments. The corolla is of a bril- 

 liant blue colour, monopetalous, wheel-shaped ; the tube short ; 

 the limb deeply divided into five acute segments ; the orifice 

 closed with five prominent teeth, which are obtuse and notched 

 at the end. The five stamens are very prominent ; the fila- 

 ments tapering, converging ; the anthers oblong, connivent, 

 fixed to the middle and inner side of the filaments. The ger- 

 men is four-parted, with a cylindrical style, longer than the 

 stamens, terminated by a simple clavate stigma. The fruit 

 consists of four one-seeded carpels. The seeds are irregular, 

 ovate, wrinkled. Plate 7, fig. 2, (a) the corolla, at the base of 

 the tube of which are seen the valves bearing the stamens ; (6) 

 the pistil ; (c) one of the four nuts of the ripe fruit. 



The Borage is a native of Southern Europe, but having been 

 long cultivated in this country, it has become naturalized, and is 

 sometimes found on rubbish and waste ground. It flowers in 

 June and July. Varieties are met with in gardens, with vfhite 

 or purple flowers and variegated leaves. 



The name is derived from cor, heart, and ago, to briiig ; be- 

 cause the plant was reputed to exhilarate the spirits*. 



Qualities and general Uses — The young and tender leaves 

 are used as salads or pot-herbs and formed an ingredient with 

 lemon, sugar, wine and water, in the old English beverage, called 

 a " cool tankard." 



Bees are fond of the flowers and frequent them much in sum- 

 mer and autumn. 



The stem and leaves contain a viscous juice of asaltish taste. 

 This juice or a decoction of the leaves, inspissated, after a few 

 days deposits crystals, which yield a great deal of nitre and 

 muriate of soda f, and which deflagrate on burning coals. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Geoffroy ^ asserts that this 

 plant attenuates gross and thick humours, removes obstructions, 

 increases the secretions, especially urine, perspiration and ex- 

 pectoration. He ordered it in pleurisy, peripneumonia, and in 



* Hence tlie old adage, "■' Borago, gaudia semper ago." 



■f Common salt. 



t Mat. Med. t. III. y. 203. 



