Echium

Echium is a genus of 60 species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae. The type species is Echium vulgare, viper's bugloss. Species of Echium are native to North Africa, Southern Africa, Europe, Madeira and the Canary Islands, as well as parts of East Asia. One species, Echium plantagineum (Patterson's Curse), is a major invasive species in Australia. Many species are used as ornamental and garden plants and may be found in suitable climates throughout the world.


Some Species
Echium candicans - Pride of Madeira is a large biennial or more commonly perennial members of the Echium genus. It is endemic to the island of Madeira but is widely distributed throughout the world as an ornamental and garden plant. In New Zealand it is a common garden escape onto road-side verges and shingle banks in northern South Island (and probably elsewhere).
In the first year after germination the plant produces a broad rosette of leaves. In the second and subsequent years more or less woody flowering stalks are produces clothed in rough leaves. The flower head is large and covered with blue flowers having red stamens. The flowers are much visited by honey bees and the honey from such visits is prized for its flavour.

Echium creticum - Cretan viper's bugloss is an ornamental plant.

Echium plantagineum (Purple Viper's Bugloss) is a species of Echium, native to western and southern Europe (from southern England south to Iberia and east to the Crimea), northern Africa, and southwestern Asia (east to Georgia). It is an annual or biennial plant growing to 20-60 cm tall, with rough, hairy, lanceolate leaves up to 14 cm long. The flowers are purple, 15-20 mm long, with all the stamens protruding, and borne on a branched spike.

Echium sabulicola is a plant in the genus Echium. It is a herbaceous biennial plant and grows up to 70 cm in height and requires plenty of sun and prolong dry periods. It is native to the sandy areas of the coasts of the western Mediterranean region from Spain east to southern France and Italy, including the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. The plant requires dry air and exposure to the sun. The flowers nad its calix forms up to five stems. Zygomorphous corolla of 12–22 mm in width and has five petals. The plant blooms in the end of April and blooms in the autumn months in during its favourable time.

Echium simplex (Tower of jewels) is a plant included in the genus Echium. It is a herbaceous biennial plant and grows up to 3 m in height and requires plenty of sun. They are endemic in the island of Tenerife mainly in Macizo de Anaga.

Echium virescens (Tower of jewels) is a plant included in the genus Echium. It is endemic to the island of Tenerife, mainly in Macizo de Anaga and the Orotava Valley. It has its own flowering region and are in the lower zones of the slopes of the south of the island.

Echium vulgare (Viper's Bugloss) is a species of Echium native to most of Europe, and western and central Asia. It is a biennial or monocarpic perennial plant growing to 30-80 cm tall, with rough, hairy, lanceolate leaves. The flowers start pink and turn vivid blue and are 15-20 mm in a branched spike, with all the stamens protruding. Stamens remain red and stand out against the blue flowers. It flowers between May and September. It is found in dry, bare and waste places.

Echium wildpretii is a herbaceous biennial plant that grows up to 3 m in height. The species is endemic to the island of Tenerife, and is found mainly in Las Cañadas del Teide. It is a biennial producing a dense rosette of leaves during the first year and in the second year produces an erect inflorescence between 1 and 3 m tall. The plant blooms from late spring to early summer in Tenerife. Uses: This plant is can be found as a garden ornamental but is intolerant of low temperatures. As for most Echiums It is favoured by bee-keepers for its high nectar and pollen content.

Vaccinium

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Vanilla

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Decumaria (woodvamp)

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Callistephus

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Dampiera

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