Borago officinalis 0
Author: Carl von Linné (1707-1778)Family: Boraginaceae Subfamily: Boraginoideae
Genus: Borago
English name: Common borage
Zone: Mediterranean
Description
This is a field and ruderal species, in basic or acidic substrate, nitrified, preferably in limestone or clay, 0-900m. It is from the Mediterranean region, southwestern Asia, Macaronesian region, except Cape Verde. It is cultivated and naturalized practically throughout Europe.
Borago officinalis Observed in Spain by Anne-Marie van Riel (license)
Botanical Description
This is an herb 30-70cm, erect, single- or multi-stemmed, with double setose-hispid indumentum, with long setae up to 4mm and short setae especially abundant in the inflorescence. It has simple or sparsely branched stems.
The leaves are entire or sinuate-lobate, with blade broad- to narrowly ovate, ovate-elliptic or elliptical, gradually narrowing at the petiole. Those at the base with a petiole up to 15cm and a blade up to 15 x 10cm. The cauline leaves are with a petiole up to 6.5cm, decurrent, and a blade up to 8 x 6cm. Those at the base of the sessile cymes, long decurrent, oblong, ovate-oblong or lanceolate-oblong.
The inflorescence is branched, paniculate, lax, each apex up to 13cm. The flowers are with bracts shorter than pedicels. The pedicels in flower are 10-30mm, straight, in fruit up to 40mm, recurved. The calyx in flower is 6-8.5mm, in fruit up to 13mm. The flower lobes are 1-2mm wide, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, with abundant short stalks, fruit up to 3mm wide. The corolla is 25-30mm in diameter, blue-violet or pinkish, rarely white. The tube is circa 1mm. The throat is with scales 1.5-2 x 2-2.5mm, broadly ovate, emarginate, glabrous on the back, puberulous on the belly. The lobes are broadly lanceolate, slightly crenulate or entire, with a short apical stalk. The stamens are with filaments of 1.5-2 x 1.5-2mm, with an apical appendage of circa 3mm attached to the back of the anther. The anthers are 5.5-6.5mm, narrowly lanceolate, with the connective extended into a stalk of circa 0.4mm, purple.
The nutlets are 4-5 x 2.5-3mm, light brown, with a basal ring of 0.4-0.5mm.
Edible plant
It is edible thanks to its leaves and roots. The young leaves are eaten in salads and the more mature leaves are generally eaten cooked with spinach or omelets for example. The roots, with a sweet taste, can be eaten both raw and cooked.
The leaves are entire or sinuate-lobate, with blade broad- to narrowly ovate, ovate-elliptic or elliptical, gradually narrowing at the petiole. Those at the base with a petiole up to 15cm and a blade up to 15 x 10cm. The cauline leaves are with a petiole up to 6.5cm, decurrent, and a blade up to 8 x 6cm. Those at the base of the sessile cymes, long decurrent, oblong, ovate-oblong or lanceolate-oblong.
The inflorescence is branched, paniculate, lax, each apex up to 13cm. The flowers are with bracts shorter than pedicels. The pedicels in flower are 10-30mm, straight, in fruit up to 40mm, recurved. The calyx in flower is 6-8.5mm, in fruit up to 13mm. The flower lobes are 1-2mm wide, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, with abundant short stalks, fruit up to 3mm wide. The corolla is 25-30mm in diameter, blue-violet or pinkish, rarely white. The tube is circa 1mm. The throat is with scales 1.5-2 x 2-2.5mm, broadly ovate, emarginate, glabrous on the back, puberulous on the belly. The lobes are broadly lanceolate, slightly crenulate or entire, with a short apical stalk. The stamens are with filaments of 1.5-2 x 1.5-2mm, with an apical appendage of circa 3mm attached to the back of the anther. The anthers are 5.5-6.5mm, narrowly lanceolate, with the connective extended into a stalk of circa 0.4mm, purple.
The nutlets are 4-5 x 2.5-3mm, light brown, with a basal ring of 0.4-0.5mm.
Edible plant
It is edible thanks to its leaves and roots. The young leaves are eaten in salads and the more mature leaves are generally eaten cooked with spinach or omelets for example. The roots, with a sweet taste, can be eaten both raw and cooked.
References
- Encyclopédie des plantes alimentaires, Michel Chauvet. 2018 pag. 90-91. ISBN
- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 11 pag. 329-332. ISBN
- Guide des plantes sauvages comestibles, Michel Botineau. 2020 pag. 128-129. ISBN
- Plantes comestibles, cueillette & recettes des 4 saisons, C. Anglade, G. Lalière, C. Leray. 2012 pag. 196-197. ISBN
- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 11 pag. 329-332. ISBN
- Guide des plantes sauvages comestibles, Michel Botineau. 2020 pag. 128-129. ISBN
- Plantes comestibles, cueillette & recettes des 4 saisons, C. Anglade, G. Lalière, C. Leray. 2012 pag. 196-197. ISBN
References for the genus
- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 11 pag. 329-332. ISBN
General specifications
Annual or Biennial plant
Indigenous plant
Biological type: plant
Frost resistance: 19ºF
Leaf color: green gray
Flower color: bleu
Reproduction mode: hermaphrodite plant whoes flowers produce both male and female gametes
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 1,9ft x 0,9ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: marcescent
Growth: fast
Flowering time from June until October
Ripe fruits in June
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 3x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Perennials; forestry plate 8cm, 1L container, 2L forestry pot, 6L container, 55L container
Propagation is done by cuttings
Frost resistance: 19ºF
Leaf color: green gray
Flower color: bleu
Reproduction mode: hermaphrodite plant whoes flowers produce both male and female gametes
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 1,9ft x 0,9ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: marcescent
Growth: fast
Flowering time from June until October
Ripe fruits in June
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 3x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Perennials; forestry plate 8cm, 1L container, 2L forestry pot, 6L container, 55L container
Propagation is done by cuttings
Sowing instructions
SPRING Sow the seeds at 5mm depth in the Well Drained Seed Sowing Mix and pouwder with 2mm Perlite between 64-72°F. During germination keep the substrate moist and in daylight. The seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks.
The average seed weight is 62,1 per gram (0,0161g).
Germination references
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol & Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
The average seed weight is 62,1 per gram (0,0161g).
Germination references
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol & Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
This plant is available from the following nurseries
Experiences in the garden
04-03-19A Obtaining seeds from seed provider Asklepios Seeds collected in '....'. Stock (Cultivated from unknown origin)
24-04-19 Sown seeds in a tray and germinated at 02-05-19, result: 4 units in Serre4.
Protocol: Spring Perlite 5mm Sowing mix+Sand 64-72°F Damp substrate+Light 1-2w
17-03-21 Sown 30 seeds in a tray and germinated at 29-03-21, result: 1 units in Serre3.
Protocol: Spring Perlite 5mm Sowing mix+Sand 59-68°F Damp substrate+Light 1-2w
. . . 2019A Production of 4 plants in our nursery (Cultivated from unknown origin)
01-08-20 3x Dead plant: End of life: Serre7 C6 Serre7 F2.
23-06-21 1x Dead plant: End of life: Serre5 C6.
. . . 2021A Collection of seeds in the garden collected at 01-06-21. Stock (Cultivated from unknown origin)
. . . 2021A Production of 1 plants in our nursery (Cultivated from unknown origin)
19-12-22 1x Dead plant: End of life: Serre5 C1.