BUGLOSS
Anchusa arvensis
Borage [Boraginaceae] 
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Borage [Boraginaceae]
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flower
inner
morph
petals
stem
toxicity
| 14th June 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| A slightly branched heavily bristled plant which grows up to 18 inches tall, usually as an arable weed. |
| 23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Lanceolate to linear stemless leaves covered in bristles. A few small sky-blue flowers near the tops. |
| 14th June 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Leaves join the stem without stalks. Usually more withered flowers and buds that opened ones. |
| 23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| A much clearer view of the buds and flowers, which are usually hidden in a mass of small leaves and dense covering of bristles. |
| 23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Flower buds stalked. Sepals are bristly, long and tapered, and number five. |
| 23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| An unusually high number of opened flowers amidst fewer withered spent ones. The petal-tube is curved, paler than the flower which opens at 45° into five stubby and rounded petals. |
| 6th Aug 2009, Rhyl, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| In the centre of the flower is a small white fluffy ball which completely blocks the petal-tube. Some books mention white honey-guides between the five petals, but none are evident in any of these photographs... |
| 23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Petal-tube is curved. Un-opened flowers a deep purple. |
| 31st May 2007, Walney Island, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
| By transmitted light the petals have faint white veins. |
| 14th June 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| The bristles are transparent and look similar to the trichomes of Stinging Nettle, but these on Bugloss appear not to inject any poisons into straying flesh. |
| 14th June 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Transparent bristles. |
| 23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| The leaves are linear to lanceolate. All parts except the petals are covered in transparent bristles. |
| 14th June 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Leaf surface rough, leaf edge wrinkled. Leaf surface puckered where the bristles emerge. |
| 23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| An unusually large number of basal leaves. |
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Apart from the dense covering of transparent bristles and several other differences, could be mistaken for :
Not to be confused with : Bugle or
Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature :
Being a member of the Borage Family, Bugloss contains several poisonous pyrrolidizine alkaloids. Amongst them are the pyrollizidine monoesters such as Lycopsamine, It also contains Allantoin ANY TEXT GOES HERE |
 Anchusa (Alkanets) |
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Borage [Boraginaceae]
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