Echium plantagineum L.

Spice Flower In the field 1 In the field 2

Family: BORAGINACEAE

Genus: Echium

Catalan common name: Llengua de bou. Tapabraguetes.

Spanish common name: Viborera.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

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

Characteristics: The name of this herb comes from its basal rosette of leaves which is reminiscent of a plantain. It forms an erect inflorescence with many bright blue flowers with petals which are joined along practically their whole length. Like many of the species belonging to the family of the Boraginaceae, the plant is covered in rigid hairs which make it slightly rough to the touch. It can be mistaken for Echium sabulicola, but this is smaller and the corolla of the flower is hairy, whereas the flowers of Echium plantagineum only have hairs on the veins of the flower.