Borago officinalis L.

Spice Flower detail Flower In the field

Family: BORAGINACEAE

Genus: Borago

Catalan common name: Borratja. Herba de la tos. Orella d'ós. Pa-i-peixet.

Spanish common name: Borraja.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Path and road sides.

Characteristics: This species gives the name to the Boraginaceae family, so it is its most typical representative. It has basal leaves with quite a wide limb and a long petiole, both the leaves and the stems are covered in rigid hairs which are very rough to the touch, the characteristic touch of many of the Boraginaceae species. The most representative feature could be its flowers, which are bright blue with a white throat, five very open petals and some black stamen in the centre which form a kind of point. The flowers often hang downwards. The tender leaves are edible. It lives along path-sides and in grassland. It flowers from the end of winter to spring.