BORAGJNE^. 



587 



2. Tuberous Comfrey. Symphytum tuberosum, Linn. 

 (Fig. 701.) 



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



A much smaller plant than the com- 

 mon species, seldom above a foot high, 

 and not branched. The rootstock forms 

 a short woody tuber. Leaves mostly 

 ovate and stalked ; the upper ones near- 

 ly sessile, and very slightly decurrent. 

 Cymes small and few -flowered, the 

 flowers themselves about the size of the 

 common C. 



In woods, and on shady banks, in cen- 

 tral and southern Europe, but scarcely 

 extending into northern Germany. In 

 Britain, rather more northern, being 

 more frequent in southern Scotland than 

 :m England. Not recorded from Ireland. 

 Fl. summer. 



Fig. VOL 



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 cen- 

 tre 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 west- 

 ern Asia. 



1. Common Borage. Borago officinalis, Linn. (Fig. 702.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 36.) 



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 



