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-no ...

family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs,

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The

APG IV system The APG IV system of flowering plant classification is the fourth version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy for flowering plants (angiosperms) being developed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). It was published ...

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 distri ...

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 flowe ...

. 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 ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...

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, that ...

Ehretiaceae Ehretioideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. Genera *''Bourreria'' P.Browne *'' Cortesia'' Cav. *''Ehretia'' P.Browne *''Halgania'' Gaudich. *'' Ixorhea'' Fenzl *'' Lepidocordia'' Ducke *'' Menais'' Loefl. *'' Pa ...

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 o ...

, 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 Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, a ...

is by hymenopterans, such as bees. Most species have

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphology (biology), Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of sperma ...

s that have a coiling shape, at least when new, called scorpioid cymes. The flower has a usually five-lobed calyx. 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 Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

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 Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula , most commonly found in nature as quartz and in various living organisms. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one ...

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, anthocyanins 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'' 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/ ...

(''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 Boraginac ...

(''Amsinckia'' spp.) *

(''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 is ...

(''Cynoglossum'' spp.) * lungwort (''Pulmonaria'' spp.) * oysterplant (''Mertensia maritima'') * purple viper's bugloss/Salvation Jane (''Echium plantagineum'') * Siberian bugloss (''Brunnera macrophylla'') * viper's bugloss (''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 ''Actinocarya'' is a small genus of annual herbs in the family Boraginaceae. Species in the genus are found in Pakistan, China, and India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of cou ...

'' * '' Adelinia'' * '' Adelocaryum'' * '' Aegonychon'' * ''

Afrotysonia ''Afrotysonia'' 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 distribut ...

'' * '' Ailuroglossum'' * '' Alkanna'' * '' Amblynotus'' * ''

Amphibologyne ''Amphibologyne'' 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 distri ...

'' * '' Amsinckia'' * '' Amsinckiopsis'' * '' Anchusa'' * '' Ancistrocarya'' * '' Andersonglossum'' * '' Anoplocaryum'' * ''

Antiotrema ''Antiotrema'' 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 distributi ...

'' * '' Antiphytum'' * '' Arnebia'' * '' Asperugo'' * '' 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 p ...

'' * '' 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 Beu ...

'' * '' Brachybotrys'' * '' Brandella'' * '' Brunnera'' * '' Buglossoides'' * '' Caccinia'' * ''

Cerinthe ''Cerinthe'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, known as honeyworts. The genus is characterised by a calyx made up of separate, rather than fused, sepals, a tubular corolla, and the schizocarpic fruit that divides into ...

'' * '' Chionocharis'' * ''

Choriantha ''Choriantha'' 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 distributi ...

'' * '' Codon'' * '' 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 is ...

'' * '' 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'' * '' Ellisia'' * ''

Embadium ''Embadium'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Its native range is Central and Southern Australia. Species: *''Embadium jobnstonii'' *''Embadium stagnense'' *''Embadium uncinatum'' References

{{Taxo ...

'' * '' Emmenanthe'' * ''

Eremocarya ''Eremocarya'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. There are about 63 species and its native range extends through western United States to northwestern Mexico. It is part of subtribe of ''Amsinckiinae''. It was once thoug ...

'' * '' Eriodictyon'' * ''

Eritrichium ''Eritrichium'' (alpine forget-me-not) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. It contains 78 species. Notable members include '' Eritrichium howardii'' and ''Eritrichium nanum''. Its native range stretches from temperate Eura ...

'' * '' 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 ...

'' * '' Gastrocotyle'' * '' Glandora'' * ''

Greeneocharis ''Greeneocharis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. There are about 63 species and its native range extends from western U.S.A. down to northwestern Mexico and to western Argentina. It is part of subtribe of ''Amsinckiin ...

'' * '' 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 ''Hesperochiron'' is a small genus of plants in the waterleaf family containing two species native to western North America. These are thick-rooted perennial herbs growing in squat patches at ground level and producing bluish-white flowers with ...

'' * '' Heterocaryum'' * '' Huynhia'' * '' Hydrophyllum'' * '' Iberodes'' * '' Ivanjohnstonia'' * '' Ixorhea'' * ''

Johnstonella ''Johnstonella'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Its native range is south western and southern USA to Mexico, Peru to southern South America. It is found in the American states of Arizona, California, Nevada ...

'' * ''

Lappula ''Lappula'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Boraginaceae, borage family known generally as stickseeds. They are Indigenous (ecology), native to the northern hemisphere. These are Annual plant, annual Herbaceous plant, herbs producing funnel ...

'' * '' Lasiocaryum'' * '' Lennoa'' * '' Lepechiniella'' * '' Lepidocordia'' * '' Lindelofia'' * '' Lithodora'' * '' Lithospermum'' * '' Lobostemon'' * '' Maharanga'' * '' Mairetis'' * '' Mattiastrum'' * '' Megacaryon'' * '' Melanortocarya'' * '' Memoremea'' * '' Mertensia'' * '' Microcaryum'' * '' Microparacaryum'' * '' Microula'' * '' Mimophytum'' * '' Moltkia'' * '' Moltkiopsis'' * '' Moritzia'' * '' Myosotidium'' * ''

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-no ...

'' * '' 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 ''Nonea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. Sometimes known as monkswort, these are herbaceous perennial plant, perennials or Annual plant, annual plants, native to Europe, Asia and Africa. The leaves are grayish-green, ...

'' * '' Ogastemma'' * '' Omphalodes'' * '' Omphalolappula'' * '' Omphalotrigonotis'' * '' Oncaglossum'' * ''

Onosma ''Onosma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. They are native to the Mediterranean and western Asia. They grow in dry, sunny habitats with rocky, sandy substrates.Koyuncu, O., et al. (2013)A new ''Onosma'' (Boraginaceae) s ...

'' * ''

Oreocarya ''Oreocarya'' (Perennial Cat's-Eye) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. There are about 63 species and its native range extends from western and central Canada, through western United States to north Mexico. It is part of s ...

'' * '' Paracaryum'' * '' Paramoltkia'' * '' Pardoglossum'' * ''

Pectocarya ''Pectocarya'' is a plant genus of about 15 species in the family Boraginaceae. Plants in this genus are known generally as combseeds. They are small annual plants which bear tiny white flowers no more than 3 millimeters in diameter. Their fruits ...

'' * ''

Pentaglottis ''Pentaglottis'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. It is represented by a single species, ''Pentaglottis sempervirens'', commonly known as the green alkanet, evergreen bugloss or alkanet, and is a bristly, pe ...

'' * ''

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 recorded ...

'' * '' 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 Ameri ...

'' * '' 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'' * ''

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 ...

'' * '' 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'' * ''

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'' * '' 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).

Genera

References

External links

Further reading