Borago

Borago
Borago officinalis flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	(unplaced)
Family:	Boraginaceae
Subfamily:	Boraginoideae
Genus:	Borago
Species
Borago officinalis - Common Borage Borago pygmaea - Creeping Borage

Borago (Bo-rá-go), common name borage, is a genus of two species of herbs with large, hairy leaves that taste mildly of cucumber, and star-shaped purple-blue flowers which are prized for their flavour. The leaves are often added to teas and salads, and the flowers have been added to wine (Borage has had a reputation to give one courage since Roman times). The flowers are highly attractive to bees.

General

The common name in Arabic, "araq" derives from the Arabic verb "sweat" and refers to the use as a medicinal plant among others as medicinal sudoriferous. The Latin name, was applied to the genus by its most famous species. the borage name, in latin derivated languages is due to the down covering the plant. The species "Borago officinalis" or borage is grown and eaten as a vegetable stalks preferably cooked. Known since the Middle Ages in Europe, was published in Spain during the Islamic period, from North Africa, where he opened come from Asia Minor or Syria. The bee feel an attraction for its flowers. All species have a fluff or "hairy cover" on all of the aerial parts of the plant, which protect it from herbivores. This hairs cover is dense but not tough or thorny, however it serves againts herbivores such as rabbits, respect the plant.

Features

The genus Borago are annual or perennial herbaceous plants, herbs leaves alternate. With long-stalked flowers. The inflorescences are branched escorpiodeas peaks, ie subsequent unilateral flowers are oriented and describe a curve, as the tail of the scorpion. flowers with bracts. The genus borage family Boraginaceae, are plants year or perennial, whose flowers are covers on top.

The flowers are star-shaped wheel or bell-shaped, dripping nectar is dispersed through a cone-shaped structure. They are pollinated by bees. The corolla is blue, pink or white. Corolla rotate with five scales (Caligulas). The corolla tube is short or nonexistent. Throat scales are short, hairless and emarginate, ie with a nick or notch at the apex, stand out from the crown.

The yarns are inserted near the base of the corolla. The anthers are mucronate. Anthers with long pointy appendages and upright. The stamens protrude through the throat scales to nearly the bottom of the crown. The stamens are at the top of a long narrow appendages. The appendix is ​​a long narrow apex. Style whole filiform to the base ovarium . The style does not extend beyond the scales of the throat and a capitate stigma. Four Nuculas with a thick ring-shaped collar at the base.

The fruits are small achenes obovate, straight and curly. Seed propagation is performed by the ants.

Distribution

The species of this genus are found in cultivated and rocky areas along the Norther Africa, Iberian Peninsula, Italian, including the islands, Istria and in general throughout the Mediterranean. The genus is a monophyletic group and very close genetically to the sister group of Symphytum. The genus is restricted to the southwestern Mediterranean. Four of the five species found only in northwest Africa, Corsica, Sardinia and the Tuscan Archipelago. Only borage (Borago officinalis) is widely distributed, cultivated and wild, becoming cosmopolita. Borago officinalis was thought to be native of Assyrian, but is probably of North African origin, where there are other Borago species. Naturalized in temperate America: Argentina, Canada, Chile, United States, Mexico, Paraguay ... It is often grown as ornamental. The flower is blue-purple or white star-shaped, Borago officinalis, are highly valued, are added to salads, infusions of teas and wine, it have a great reputation since ancient times.

Species

The genus comprises five species in two subgenera:

Subgenus Borago, is characterized by erect herbaceous wheel-shaped flowers, blue, sometimes white Borago officinalis.

• Borage (Borago officinalis)
• Borago trabutii, endemic to the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas, Morocco.
• Borago longifolia, endemic to northern Algeria and Tunisia.

Subgenus Buglossites (Moris) ghusl. Restricted to Corsica, Sardinia and the island of Capraia. They are prostrate and have bright, bell-shaped flowers.

• Borago pygmaea
• Borago morisiana, endemic to the island of San Pietro in southwestern Sardinia.

Books

• Bennett, M. (2003) Pulmonarias & the Borage Family. B.T. Batsford, ISBN 0-7134-8732-1
• Icon Health (2004) Borage Oil - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References. Icon Health Publications, ISBN 0-497-00169-1

References

• Bennet, M. (2003) Pulmorarias & the Borage Family ISBN 0-7134-8732-1