BtJGLOSS. 117 



crowded, ternjinal spikes. Tlie calyx is persistent, nionophyl- 

 lous, with five deep, oblong, acute segments. The corolla is 

 purplish blue, monopetalous, funnel-shaped ; the mouth of the 

 tube closed with five bearded scales ; the limb spreading, di- 

 vided into five rounded segments. The five stamens are short, 

 alternate with the scales, and terminated by oblong anthers. 

 The germen is divided into four rounded lobes, from the centre 

 of which rises a simple filiform style, tipped with a bifid stigma. 

 The fruit consists of four oval wrinkled nuts, concave at the 

 base, fixed to the bottom of the calyx. Plate 9, fig. 2, (a) calyx ; 

 (b) corolla ; (c) the same opened to show the stamens and 

 valves ; (d) the pistil. 



The common Bugloss is a native of the northern parts of 

 Europe. It can scarcely be considered indigenous to this 

 country, but is occasionally met with in waste ground, espe- 

 cially near the sea. Dr. Hooker mentions Harley Pans, North- 

 umberland, and Kilsyth, Arnbrae, and Addington in the vicinity 

 of Glasgow, as its localities. It flowers in June and July. 



It was formerly called Buglossum, hence the English name 

 Bugloss, and its synonymes in many other languages, from Bov^, 

 an ox, and yAuKrcra., a tongue, in allusion to the long rough 

 leaves. 



Qualities and general Uses.— According to Linnaeus, the 

 tender leaves of borage afford a wholesome and nutritious food, 

 and are often boiled and eaten like cabbage, in Uplandia, a pro- 

 vince of Sv\eden; and it is said, in some parts of Italy. The 

 leaves are juicy and the roots mucilaginous. Animals in general 

 will feed on the plant. The juice of the corollas*, boiled with a 

 small quantity of alum, affords a green colour. The flowers are 

 melliferous, and very attractive to bees. 



Medical Properties and Uses.— This plant bears a very 

 striking analogy in its properties to borage, for which it is often 

 substituted. They equally abound in a viscous juice, and yield 

 a large proportion of nitre f; and both were highly extolled 

 by the therapeutists of old as cordials, tonics, and exhilarants. 

 They were reckoned particularly serviceable in melancholy 

 and hypochondriacal diseases, and in inflammatory complaints, 



* Liiinsus mentions the corollas, Willemet the leaves, as affording a 

 fine green colour. 



t Or more properly " nitrate nl potass," hence their diuretic property. 



