Borage Family, Boraginaceae

Borages

"Of all the places in Greece, Pelion, in Thessaly, is the one that produces the greatest variety of pharmaceutical plants, followed by Telethrion, in Euboea, and Parnassos, but also Arcadia and Laconia."

Theophrastus, "Enquiry into Plants"

The Borage or Forget-me-not family, includes a variety of shrubs, trees, and herbs, totaling about 2,000 species in 100 genera, worldwide.

The family name is, quite likely, a derivation from the latin word "burra", meaning "shaggy garment", which refers to the rough, hairy foliage on most Borages. This hairiness is, indeed, a very useful characteristic in identifying plants in the family, insamuch as the stems and leaves of most, though not all, species are covered in very stiff bristles.

The coarseness of the hairs is due to the presence of Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). The former compound, is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz and it is a principal component of most types of glass and substances such as concrete. The latter, is a common substance found as rock in all parts of the world, and is the main component of shells of marine organisms, snails, and eggshells.

Borages are really common in the Pelion region and, despite their hairiness, are quite attractive plants. Τo grasp their beauty, however, you must get in fairly close, because their flowers are, usually, smallish. But you needn't despair; browse through this gallery and enjoy members of the family in full bloom!


		Anchusa azurea Check out the Large Blue Alkanet, a great looking plant, with deep-blue or violet flowers, which make an excellent and decorative addition to the salad bowl, or can be used as a garnish.
		Cynoglossum creticum Enjoy pictures of the Blue Hound’s Tongue, whose common name is a translation of the genus name from Greek. You see, "Cynoglossum" is derived from the words "cyon", meaning dog or hound, and "glossa", meaning tongue.
		Heliotropium europaeum Take a look at the European Heliotrope, a plant that is abundant in the Pelion region, but, quite unfortunately, has practically no edible or medicinal qualities.
		Onosma frutescens Enjoy pictures of the Golden Drop, which is, as its name suggests, a truly stunning plant. However, you had better enjoy its beauty from a distance, as the bristly stems and leaves can cause a good deal of irritation to the skin.
		Symphytum bulbosum Look at pictures of the Tuberous Comfrey, a very common plant in the Pelion region, whose properties are totally unknown to me!
		Top