BORAGE FAMILY 



THE FLOWERS: in a dense, one-sided spike, which at first 

 is closely coiled, but finally only slightly curved; the 

 corolla tube funnel-formed ; the lobes fringed ; pink stamens 

 prominent, protruding from the corolla. 



THE FRUIT: a nutlet. 



The common name, Blue-devil, holds various possi- 

 bilities of evil character. But this greyish-green, furzy 

 plant with its blue and pinkish flowers, from which hang 

 the prominent stamens, makes rather decorative bouquets 

 and keeps well in water. Besides, there are interesting 

 facts associated with it, as, for example, that it is one of 

 the few really blue flowers, and that the change from 

 blue to pink is due to the change from an alkaline to 

 an acid condition, as occurs with blue litmus paper. 

 Why, then, is this interesting and pretty plant dubbed 

 Blue-devil? Because its deep root, being tough and wide, 

 is difficult to eradicate, and because the plant, as it spreads 

 freely, soon becomes a pest in grain-fields. Moreover, it 

 is apt to make horses and cattle ill. In Australia, where 

 it is called Patterson's Curse, after the unfortunate man 

 who introduced it, it has been exterminated by a govern- 

 ment order. 



The popular name, Bugloss, derived from the Greek for 

 ox-tongue, is in allusion to the fact that the leaves are 

 rough, like the tongue of an ox. 



Seven other members of the Borage Family have been 

 reported. 



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