THE BORAGE FAMILY 
45 
stalkless and lance-shaped at the top, oblong and slightly stalked lower down, and broader and on 
long stalks at the base The stems, leaves, and sepals are all covered with stiff whitish bulbous 
hairs. [ Plate 16. 
A variety with white flowers has been found. 
The juice of the Borage has a cool refreshing flavour and is often used in cider and claret 
cups. 
Rare. Not a native. On waste places in several counties of England. June — October. 
Biennial. 
IV. *MADWORT. (ASPERUGO. Linn.) — A genus consisting of the following species, which 
differs from the Alkanet (Anchusa) in its calyx and growth. 
*MadWOPt. (Asperug’O procum'bens. Linn.)— Not a native of the British Isles. 
Flowers inch across, blue, funnel-salver-shaped, on very short stalks, solitary in the axils of the 
upper leaves. Calyx of 5 sepals, united into a bell-shaped tube and separating into 5 lobes ; after 
flowering the calyx changes and becomes enlarged, flatter, and with a prominent network of veins ; 
it also becomes 2-lipped, and develops 1 or 2 teeth between each lobe ; corolla of 5 petals, united 
into a funnel-shaped tube and spreading into 5 lobes, the throat of the tube closed with 5 rounded 
scales, inserted below the seedcase (hypogynous) ; stamens 5, with short filaments, included in the 
corolla-tube ; carpels 2 ; fruit of 4 oval nuts with a granulated surface, attached by their inner 
edge to the conical receptacle. Stems trailing, angular, brittle and fleshy, prickly with rigid 
curved bristles ; leaves lance-shaped, the lower ones narrowed into winged stalks, and the upper 
with very short stalks, nearly opposite or 3 or 4 in a circle (whorl). The whole plant is rough with 
prickly hooked hairs. 
Not a native. Very rare. Cultivated places and rich waste ground. It has been found in 
many places in England and Scotland, though it has never established itself in any of these 
localities, but it is not found in Ireland. May — July. Annual. 
V. COMFREY. (SYMPHYTUM. Linn.) — Flowers yellow, purple, pink, or white, in drooping 
1 -sided clusters coiled in bud, forming short forked terminal clusters (scorpioid racemes). Calyx 
of s sepals, united into a short tube and separating into 5 lobes, free from and inserted below the 
seedcase (inferior ) ; corolla of 5 petals, united into a bell-shaped tube and separating into 5 short 
lobes, the throat of the tube closed with 5 lance-shaped scales, inserted below the seedcase 
(hypogynous) ; stamens 5, protruding beyond the corolla-tube but not beyond the lobes, inserted 
in the corolla-tube (epi-petalous) ; carpels 2 ; fruit of 4 smooth little nuts, attached by the base to 
the flat receptacle. Coarse hairy plants with alternate entire leaves and enlarged roots. 
(x) Common Comfrey. (Symphytum officinale.) — Stem 2-3 feet high, branched, winged at 
the top by the leaves continuing down the stem. 
(2) Tuberous Comfrey. (Symphytum tuberosum.) — Stem 1 foot high, not branched, and 
scarcely winged. 
1 . Common Comfrey. (Symphytum officin&le. Linn.)— As just described. The 
flowers purple, pink, or yellowish-white in 2-forked, i-sided clusters ; the stem 2-3 feet high, stout, 
angular, strongly winged at the top, clothed with thin spreading hairs ; and the leaves egg-shaped 
or lance-shaped, rough with short stiff hairs, the lower ones shortly stalked and the upper ones 
stalkless and continuing down the stem (decurrent). \ Plate 17. 
Common. By the sides of rivers, in moist places, and by waysides, in England, Scotland, and 
Ireland. May — August. Perennial. 
