Echium italicumL. - Italian viper's bugloss
Scientific Description:
Biennial, densely hispid-setose, setae often yellowish when dry. Stem erect, to 90 cm, densely patent to erecto-patent setose. Leaves densely setose, acute, linear to narrowly oblong; basal to 25(−35) × 2(−4.5) cm, attenuate into short petiole; cauline smaller, sessile to subsessile. Inflorescence usually ± pyramidal, lowest branches arising from axils of lower cauline leaves; sometimes narrower and ± spike-like. Calyx 6−8 mm in flower, to 12 mm in fruit. Corolla pale blue, lilac, pinkish or whitish, 7–9.5 mm, narrowly infundibular, sparsely setiform-hairy or glabrescent outside. Stamens mostly long-exserted; filaments pale brown to orange. Style bifid for c. 1 mm. Nutlets c. 4 × 2 mm, ± oblong, with incurved acute beak and raised ribbed shoulders, rugose-tuberculate and reticulate.
Flowering time: May−August.
Habitat: Limestone slopes, fields, disturbed ground, etc., s.l.−1950 m.
Reference:
Edmondson JR (1978). Echium italicum L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 321.
Public Description:
Echium italicum, common name “Italian viper's bugloss”, is found in the Mediterranean Basin (especially in Italy, hence the name ‘italicum’). This plant has impressive rosette leaves, branches and gray hairs on its stem. In the summer months the pale blue, lilac, pinkish or whitish flowers open around the stem and almost looks like icing. It is found in limestone slopes, fields, disturbed ground. There are studies that determine that the plant has analgesic and antioxidant activity.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echium_italicum, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). http://www.plant-world-seeds.com/store/view_seed_item/448/, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Körüklü ST (2012). Echium L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 227.