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Boraginaceae, the borage or
forget-me-not ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...
family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The APG IV system from 2016 classifies the Boraginaceae as single family of the order
Boraginales Boraginales is an order of flowering plants in the asterid clade. It includes the Boraginaceae and a number of other families, with a total of about 125 genera and 2,700 species. Its herbs, shrubs, trees and lianas (vines) have a worldwide dis ...
within the
asterids In the APG IV system (2016) for the classification of flowering plants, the name asterids denotes a clade (a monophyletic group). Asterids is the largest group of flowering plants, with more than 80,000 species, about a third of the total fl ...
. Under the older
Cronquist system The Cronquist system is a taxonomic classification system of flowering plants. It was developed by Arthur Cronquist in a series of monographs and texts, including ''The Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants'' (1968; 2nd edition, 1988) ...
it was included in Lamiales, but it is now clear that it is no more similar to the other families in this order than they are to families in several other asterid orders. A revision of the Boraginales, also from 2016, split the Boraginaceae in eleven distinct families: Boraginaceae '' sensu stricto'', Codonaceae,
Coldeniaceae ''Coldenia'', named after C. Colden, is a monotypic genus of flowering plants traditionally included in the borage family, Boraginaceae ''sensu lato''. It was assigned to the subfamily Ehretioideae, but molecular data revealed it to be more clos ...
,
Cordiaceae Cordioideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. Genera *''Coldenia'' L. *''Cordia ''Cordia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. It contains about 300 species of shrubs and trees, tha ...
,
Ehretiaceae Ehretioideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The APG I ...
,
Heliotropiaceae Heliotropiaceae is a cosmopolitan family of flowering plants with approximately 450 species worldwide, though it is concentrated especially in the tropics and subtropics. There are the following four genera in the family: * ''Heliotropium (''incl ...
,
Hoplestigmataceae ''Hoplestigma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hoplestigmataceae.Vernon H. Heywood, Richard K. Brummitt, Ole Seberg, and Alastair Culham. 2007. ''Flowering Plant Families of the World''. Firefly Books: Ontario, Canada. . One study ...
, Hydrophyllaceae, Lennoaceae, Namaceae, and Wellstediaceae. These plants have alternately arranged leaves, or a combination of alternate and opposite leaves. The leaf blades usually have a narrow shape; many are linear or lance-shaped. They are smooth-edged or toothed, and some have petioles. Most species have bisexual flowers, but some taxa are dioecious. Most pollination is by hymenopterans, such as
bee Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfami ...
s. Most species have inflorescences that have a coiling shape, at least when new, called scorpioid cymes. The flower has a usually five-lobed
calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...
. The corolla varies in shape from rotate to bell-shaped to tubular, but it generally has five lobes. It can be green, white, yellow, orange, pink, purple, or blue. There are five stamens and one style with one or two stigmas. The fruit is a drupe, sometimes fleshy. Most members of this family have hairy leaves. The coarse character of the hairs is due to cystoliths of silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate. These hairs can induce an adverse skin reaction, including itching and rash in some individuals, particularly among people who handle the plants regularly, such as gardeners. In some species,
anthocyanin Anthocyanins (), also called anthocyans, are water-soluble vacuolar pigments that, depending on their pH, may appear red, purple, blue, or black. In 1835, the German pharmacist Ludwig Clamor Marquart gave the name Anthokyan to a chemical com ...
s cause the flowers to change color from red to blue with age. This may be a signal to pollinators that a flower is old and depleted of pollen and nectar.Hess, D. 2005. ''Systematische Botanik''. Well-known members of the family include: * alkanet (''Alkanna tinctoria'') *
borage Borage ( or ; ''Borago officinalis''), also known as starflower, is an annual herb in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region, and has naturalized in many other locales. It grows satisfactorily in gard ...
(''Borago officinalis'') * comfrey (''Symphytum'' spp.) *
fiddleneck ''Amsinckia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as fiddlenecks. The common name is derived from the flower stems, which curl over at the top in a manner reminiscent of the head of a fiddle. Fiddlenecks are in the family Boragina ...
(''Amsinckia'' spp.) *
forget-me-not ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...
(''Myosotis'' spp.) * geigertree (''Cordia sebestena'') * green alkanet (''Pentaglottis sempervirens'') * heliotrope (''Heliotropium'' spp.) *
hound's tongue ''Cynoglossum'' is a genus of small-flowered plants in the family Boraginaceae (borage family). '' Cynoglossum officinale'', the common hound's-tongue, is a native of Asia, Africa, and Europe. It has been introduced into North America, and it i ...
(''Cynoglossum'' spp.) *
lungwort ''Pulmonaria'' (lungwort) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, native to Europe and western Asia, with one species (''P. mollissima'') east to central Asia. According to various estimates there may be between 10 and 18 spe ...
(''Pulmonaria'' spp.) * oysterplant (''Mertensia maritima'') * purple viper's bugloss/Salvation Jane (''Echium plantagineum'') * Siberian bugloss (''Brunnera macrophylla'') *
viper's bugloss ''Echium vulgare'', known as viper's bugloss and blueweed,Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 203. is a species of flowering plant in the borag ...
(''Echium vulgare'')


Genera

According to
Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is a ...
; * '' Actinocarya'' * '' Adelinia'' * ''
Adelocaryum ''Adelocaryum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Its native range is southern Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia. It is s ...
'' * '' Aegonychon'' * '' Afrotysonia'' * '' Ailuroglossum'' * '' Alkanna'' * '' Amblynotus'' * '' Amphibologyne'' * '' Amsinckia'' * '' Amsinckiopsis'' * ''
Anchusa The genus ''Anchusa'' belongs to the borage family (Boraginaceae). It includes about 35 species found growing in Europe, North Africa, South Africa and Western Asia. They are introduced in the United States. They consist of annual plants, bie ...
'' * '' Ancistrocarya'' * '' Andersonglossum'' * '' Anoplocaryum'' * '' Antiotrema'' * '' Antiphytum'' * '' Arnebia'' * ''
Asperugo ''Asperugo procumbens'', known as madwort or German madwort, is the single species in the monotypic plant genus ''Asperugo''. This plant is native to Europe but has been introduced elsewhere, such as the northern half of North America. Referenc ...
'' * '' Auxemma'' * ''
Borago ''Borago'', or borage, is a genus of five species of herbs native to the Mediterranean, with one species, '' Borago officinalis'', cultivated and naturalized throughout the world. Uses ''Borago officinalis'' is used medicinally, in companion pl ...
'' * '' Bothriospermum'' * ''
Bourreria ''Bourreria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as strongbark or strongback. The generic name was chosen by Patrick Browne to honour German pharmacist Johann Ambrosius Beur ...
'' * '' Brachybotrys'' * '' Brandella'' * '' Brunnera'' * ''
Buglossoides ''Buglossoides'' is a genus consisting of 15 species of annual or perennial herbs, native to Europe and Asia. They grow naturally in habitats ranging from sunny scrub to rocky slopes and woodland areas. These plants are covered in fine bristles ...
'' * '' Caccinia'' * '' Cerinthe'' * '' Chionocharis'' * '' Choriantha'' * ''
Codon The genetic code is the set of rules used by living cells to translate information encoded within genetic material ( DNA or RNA sequences of nucleotide triplets, or codons) into proteins. Translation is accomplished by the ribosome, which links p ...
'' * '' Coldenia'' * '' Cordia'' * '' Craniospermum'' * '' Crucicaryum'' * '' Cryptantha'' * '' Cynoglossopsis'' * ''
Cynoglossum ''Cynoglossum'' is a genus of small-flowered plants in the family Boraginaceae (borage family). '' Cynoglossum officinale'', the common hound's-tongue, is a native of Asia, Africa, and Europe. It has been introduced into North America, and it i ...
'' * '' Cynoglottis'' * '' Cystostemon'' * '' Dasynotus'' * '' Decalepidanthus'' * '' Draperia'' * '' Echiochilon'' * ''
Echium ''Echium'' is a genus of approximately 70 species and several subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae. Species of ''Echium'' are native to North Africa, mainland Europe to Central Asia, and the Macaronesian islands where ...
'' * ''
Ehretia ''Ehretia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. It contains about 50 species. The generic name honors German botanical illustrator Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708–1770). Species Accepted species and other notable ...
'' * ''
Ellisia ''Ellisia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the forget-me-not family (Boraginaceae), containing the sole species ''Ellisia nyctelea''. It is native to North America, where it is also known as Aunt Lucy, false baby blue eyes, and waterpod. The ...
'' * '' Embadium'' * '' Emmenanthe'' * '' Eremocarya'' * '' Eriodictyon'' * '' Eritrichium'' * '' Eucrypta'' * ''
Euploca ''Euploca'' is an almost cosmopolitan genus of plants with around 100 species. It was first described by Thomas Nuttall in 1837. While part of the broadly defined Boraginaceae in the APG IV system from 2016, a revision of the order Boraginales f ...
'' * '' Gastrocotyle'' * '' Glandora'' * '' Greeneocharis'' * '' Gyrocaryum'' * '' Hackelia'' * '' Halacsya'' * '' Halgania'' * '' Harpagonella'' * '' Heliocarya'' * ''
Heliotropium ''Heliotropium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the heliotrope family, Heliotropiaceae. There are around 325 species in this almost cosmopolitan genus, which are commonly known as heliotropes (sg. ). It is highly toxic for dogs and cats. ...
'' * '' Hesperochiron'' * '' Heterocaryum'' * '' Huynhia'' * '' Hydrophyllum'' * ''
Iberodes Iberodes is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae native to southwest Europe. The whiteflower navelwort is part of this genus. Most specimens are from the Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese and O ...
'' * '' Ivanjohnstonia'' * ''
Ixorhea ''Ixorhea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. T ...
'' * '' Johnstonella'' * '' Lappula'' * '' Lasiocaryum'' * ''
Lennoa ''Lennoa'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. It only contains one known species, Lennoa madreporoides Lex. It is within the subfamily of Lennoaceae. Its native range is Mexico to Venezuela. It is foun ...
'' * '' Lepechiniella'' * '' Lepidocordia'' * '' Lindelofia'' * '' Lithodora'' * ''
Lithospermum ''Lithospermum'' is a genus of plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. The genus is distributed nearly worldwide, but most are native to the Americas and the center of diversity is in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Species are kn ...
'' * '' Lobostemon'' * '' Maharanga'' * '' Mairetis'' * '' Mattiastrum'' * '' Megacaryon'' * '' Melanortocarya'' * ''
Memoremea ''Memoremea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. ...
'' * ''
Mertensia ''Mertensia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. They are perennial herbaceous plants with blue or sometimes white flowers that open from pink-tinged buds. Such a change in flower color is common in Boraginaceae and is ca ...
'' * '' Microcaryum'' * '' Microparacaryum'' * '' Microula'' * ''
Mimophytum ''Mimophytum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The species occur in Northeastern Mexico and adjacent areas of Texas, United States. They are similar to the closely related genus ''Omphalodes'' but a distinct group. Mo ...
'' * '' Moltkia'' * '' Moltkiopsis'' * '' Moritzia'' * ''
Myosotidium ''Myosotidium'' is a genus of plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. This genus is represented by the single species ''Myosotidium hortensia'', the Chatham Islands lily, giant forget-me-not or Chatham Islands forget-me-not, which is endemi ...
'' * ''
Myosotis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-not ...
'' * '' Myriopus'' * '' Nama'' * '' Neatostema'' * ''
Nemophila ''Nemophila'' is a genus found in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. Most of the species in ''Nemophila'' contain the phrase "baby blue eyes" in their common names. ''N. menziesii'' has the common name of "baby blue eyes". ''N. parviflora' ...
'' * '' Nesocaryum'' * ''
Nihon Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
'' * '' Nogalia'' * '' Nonea'' * '' Ogastemma'' * ''
Omphalodes ''Omphalodes'' (navelwort) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, widely distributed in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. In spring they produce blue or white flowers similar to forget-me-nots. Both the Greek ''Omphalodes'' ...
'' * '' Omphalolappula'' * '' Omphalotrigonotis'' * '' Oncaglossum'' * '' Onosma'' * '' Oreocarya'' * '' Paracaryum'' * '' Paramoltkia'' * '' Pardoglossum'' * '' Pectocarya'' * '' Pentaglottis'' * ''
Phacelia ''Phacelia'' (phacelia, scorpionweed, heliotrope) is a genus of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the borage family, native to North and South America. California is particularly rich in species with over 90 recorde ...
'' * '' Pholisma'' * '' Pholistoma'' * ''
Plagiobothrys ''Plagiobothrys'' is a genus of flowering plants known commonly as popcorn flowers. These are small herbaceous plants which bear tiny white or yellow flowers. Their fruits are nutlets. Although these plants are found predominantly in North Amer ...
'' * '' Podonosma'' * '' Pontechium'' * '' Pseudoheterocaryum'' * '' Pseudolappula'' * ''
Pulmonaria ''Pulmonaria'' (lungwort) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, native to Europe and western Asia, with one species (''P. mollissima'') east to central Asia. According to various estimates there may be between 10 and 18 spe ...
'' * '' Rindera'' * '' Rochefortia'' * '' Rochelia'' * '' Romanzoffia'' * ''
Rotula A ''rotulus'' (plural ''rotuli'') or ''rotula'' (pl. ''rotulae'') is often referred to as a "vertical roll," is a long and narrow strip of writing material, historically papyrus or parchment, that is wound around a wooden axle or rod. Rotuli are ...
'' * ''
Sauria Sauria is the clade containing the most recent common ancestor of archosaurs (such as crocodilians, dinosaurs, etc.) and lepidosaurs (lizards and kin), and all its descendants. Since most molecular phylogenies recover turtles as more closely r ...
'' * '' Selkirkia'' * '' Simpsonanthus'' * '' Sinojohnstonia'' * '' Solenanthus'' * '' Stenosolenium'' * '' Stephanocaryum'' * '' Suchtelenia'' * ''
Symphytum ''Symphytum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae, known by the common name comfrey (pronounced ). There are 59 recognized species.WFO (2022): Symphytum L. Published on the Internet; http://www.worldfloraonline.org/ ...
'' * '' Thaumatocaryum'' * '' Thyrocarpus'' * '' Tianschaniella'' * ''
Tiquilia ''Tiquilia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. The 27 species in this genus are known by the common name crinklemat. They are native to the Western Hemisphere and are mostly found in desert A desert is a ba ...
'' * ''
Tournefortia ''Tournefortia'', commonly known as soldierbush, is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. It was first published under the name ''Pittonia'' by Charles Plumier in 1703, in honour of Joseph Pitton de Tournefort. Later, ...
'' * '' Trachelanthus'' * ''
Trachystemon ''Trachystemon'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Its native range is Bulgaria to Turkey. It is a monotypic genus, with the only member being ''Trachystemon orientalis''(L.) D.Don. Trachystemon orientalis ' ...
'' * '' Trichodesma'' * '' Trigonocaryum'' * '' Trigonotis'' * '' Turricula'' * '' Varronia'' * '' Valentiniella'' * '' Wellstedia'' * '' Wigandia''


References


External links


Distribution MapMissouri Botanical Garden

BoraginaceaeMabberley's Plant-Book

BoraginaceaePlant NamesIPNI

Home page of James L. Reveal and C. Rose Broome

Boraginaceae (Search Exact)Name SearchTropicosMissouri Botanical Garden


Topwalks.net: Walking Routes in Spain.
Boraginaceae.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).


Further reading

* Diane, N., et al. 2002
A systematic analysis of ''Heliotropium'', ''Tournefortia'', and allied taxa of the Heliotropiaceae (Boraginales) based on ITS1 sequences and morphological data.
''American Journal of Botany'' 89(2), 287-95. * Gottschling, M., et al. (2001). Secondary structure of the ITS1 transcript and its application in a reconstruction of the phylogeny of Boraginales. ''Plant Biology'' 3, 629-36. {{Authority control Asterid families