Symphytum. | LUI, BORAGINEA. 315 
The genus contains but few species, nearly resembling each other, and 
extends over Kurope and northern Asia. 
Stem 2 or 3 feet high, branched, more or less winged by the de- 
current base of the leaves. 1. S. officinale. 
Stem simple, about a foot high. Leaves stalked or scarcely de- 
current . : ° ‘ é ° ‘ 5 . 2. &. tuberosum. 
1. S. officinale, Linn. (fig. 705). Common Comfrey.—Rootstock 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 upper 
ones sessile and decurrent along the stem to the next leaf below or even 
~ lower down. 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 Eng- 
land and Ireland, but less so in Scotland, and not wild north of Aberdeen 
or Glasgow. 1. spring and summer. 
2, S. tuberosum, Linn. (fig. 706).  Zuberous Comfrey.—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 decurrent, 
Cymes small and few-flowered, the flowers themselves about the size of those 
of C. officinale. 
In woods, and on shady banks, in central and southern Europe, but 
scarcely extending into northern Germany. In Britain, not found south of 
North Wales and Bedford, being more frequent in southern Scotland than 
in England; absent from Ireland. Vl. summer. 
IX. BORAGO, BORAGE. 
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. 
Nuts attached by their excavated base, and free from the style. 
A genus of few species, chiefly from north-eastern Europe and western 
Asia. 
1. B. officinalis, Linn. (fig. 707). Common Borage.—Stem erect, with 
spreading branches, a foot high, or rather more. Lower leaves obovate or 
oblong, narrowed at the base into long stalks; the upper ones more — 
shortly stalked, and narrower. Flowers on long pedicels, drooping, of a 
clear blue or sometimes white; the dark anthers very prominent in the 
centre. 
In waste grounds, indigenous to the east Mediterranean region, but, long 
cultivated in European gardens, it has become naturalized in many parts of 
central and western Europe, and in several counties of England, 7. ald 
summer. 
