THE BORAGE FAMILY 
[ORDER LII. BOR AGIN ACEAL] 
T HE Borage Family is one of the largest and most natural orders we possess. It is easily 
recognised by the spirally coiled clusters of flowers, which are usually blue, by the 5 
stamens, by the 4-seeded fruit, and the entire rough leaves and succulent stems which are 
covered with harsh hairs. These hairs usually rise from a swollen base which adds considerably to 
the roughness of the plant. It is because of this rough hairiness that Linnaeus named the order 
Asperifoliae or Rough-leaved plants. 
The members of the tribe are principally natives of the northern temperate zone, and abound 
in those countries bordering on the Mediterranean, though a few are found in tropical 
regions. 
Some foreign species are cultivated in gardens. The leaves of the Borage (Borago officinalis) 
are employed for flavouring claret cup, and the roots of the Alkanet contain a red matter which 
is employed as a dye. 
Two foreign orders are nearly allied to the Borage and also to the Convolvulus tribes, some 
of the species of which are cultivated in gardens — the Nemophilas and Eutocas, principally natives 
of America, and the sweet-scented Heliotrope. 
I. Viper’s Bugloss (Echium). Flowers large, funnel-shaped, with a bract below each flower; 
corolla-lobes unequal, slightly 2-lipped, without scales closing the throat ; stamens 
unequal, protruding beyond the corolla-lobes ; stigma 2-cleft. 
II. Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglos'sum). Flowers funnel-shaped ; corolla-throat closed with 5 
prominent blunt scales ; stamens enclosed in the corolla-tube ; nuts covered with hooked 
prickles, burr-like. 
III. *Bora'ge (Borago). Flowers large, star-like ; corolla-throat closed with 5 erect short scales ; 
stamens protruding, the anthers forming a cone round the pistil. 
IV. *Madwort (Asperugo). Flowers small, solitary, salver-shaped ; calyx with 5 leafy lobes 
and intermediate teeth, enlarged and netted with veins in fruit ; corolla-throat closed 
with 5 rounded scales ; stamens included in the corolla-tube ; nuts granulated, flattened. 
V. Comfrey (Sym'phytum). Flowers bell-shaped ; corolla-throat closed with 5 lance-shaped 
scales ; stamens protruding. 
VI. Smooth Gromwell (Merten'sia). Flowers funnel-shaped ; corolla-throat not closed with 
scales ; stamens protruding ; nuts fleshy. 
VII. *Alkanet (Anchusa). Flowers salver-shaped ; corolla-tube straight, its throat closed 
with 5 prominent scales ; stamens enclosed in corolla-tube ; nuts angular, wrinkled. 
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