Echium simplex
| Tower of jewels | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Echium |
| Species: | E. simplex
|
| Binomial name | |
| Echium simplex | |
Echium simplex (Tower of jewels) is a herbaceous biennial plant which grows up to 3 m in height.
Habitat
It is a frost intolerant species requiring sustained periods of sunlight to thrive. It is endemic in the island of Tenerife mainly in Macizo de Anaga.
Description
The plant is biennial producing a dense rosette in the first year and producing the distinctive inflorescence to a height of 1–3 metres (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) during the second year. The flowers are white and the plant is in bloom from February to April in Tenerife. E. simplex is widely available as a garden flower in warm temperate areas. It is very attractive to bees and produces a distinctively flavoured honey.
References
Wikispecies has information related to Echium simplex.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Echium simplex.