380 THE BOEAGE TAMILT. 



terminal, forked oymes, and no bracts under the pedicels. Calyx deeply 5- 

 cleft. Corolla tubular, but enlarged above the middle, where it is closed in- 

 side by 5 lanceolate scales, and terminatirg in 5 very small spreading teeth 

 or lobes. Stamens shorter than the corolla. Nuts ovoid, smooth, attached 

 by their base. 



The genus contains but few species, nearly resembling each other, and 

 extends over Europe and northern Asia. 



Stem 3 or 3 feet high, branched, more or less winged by the decurrent 



base of the leaves 1. Common C. 



Stem simple, about a foot high. Leaves stalked or scarcely decurrent 2. Tuberous C. 



1. Common Comfrey. Symphytum officinale, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 817.) 



Eootstoclj thick, with stout, erect, branching, annual stems, 2 or 3 feet 

 high. Leaves broadly lanceolate, often 8 or 9 inches long or more, tapering 

 into a long point, and rough with short, stiff hairs ; the lower ones stalked, 

 the upjDcr ones sessile and decurrent along the stem to the next leaf below 

 or even lower do^vn. Flower-cymes stalked above the last leaf, once or 

 seldom twice forked ; the branches forming short, one-sided racemes. 

 Flowers all pedicellate, 3 lines long, either pale yellow or a dark dingy- 

 purple. 



On moist banks, the borders of meadows, etc., in Europe and western 

 Asia, extending northward into southern Scandinavia. Frequent in England 

 and Ireland but less so in Scotland, and not found to the north of Aberdeen 

 or G-lasgow. FL spring and summer. 



2. Tuberous Comfrey. Symphytum tuberosum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1502, a luxuriant garden specimen.) 



A much smaller plant than the common species, seldom above a foot 

 high, and not branched. The rootstock forms a short woody tuber. Leaves 

 mostly ovate and stalked ; the upper ones nearly sessile, and very slightly de- 

 current. Cymes small and few-flowered, tlie flowers themselves about the 

 size of the common C. 



In woods, and on shady banks, in central and southern Europe, but 

 scarcely extending into northern Germany. In Britain, rather more north- 

 ern, being more frequent in southern Scotland than in England. Kot re- 

 corded from Ireland. Fl. sutimner. 



IX. BORAGE. BORAGO. 



Rough, hairy annuals or biennials, with blue flowers in loose forked cymes. 

 Calyx deeply 5-cleft. Corolla rotate ; the tube exceedingly short ; the 

 mouth closed by short scales. Stamens 5 ; the filaments very short and 

 forked ; the anthers forming an erect cone in the centre of the flower. Kuts 

 attached by their excavated base, and free from the style. 



A genus of few species, chiefly from north-eastern Europe and western 

 Asia. 



1. Common Borage. Borago officinalis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 36.) 

 Stem erect, with spreading branches, a foot high or rather more. Lower 



