A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Anchusa arvensis
Height: 15–40 cm (6–16 in.). Stem branched, roundish–bristly, rough-haired. Flower: Corolla wheel-shaped–campanulate (bell-shaped), slightly irregular (zygomorphic), 4–6 mm wide, initially red, later light blue, fused, 5-lobed. Calyx-tube same length as calyx, curved, large white protuberances in throat. Calyx fused, campanulate (bell-shaped), 5-lobed from base, densely hairy. Calyx lobes tapered, sharp-tipped. Stamens 5. Gynoecium fused, single-styled. Inflorescence initially dense, later extending into a 1-branched scorpioid cyme, all flowers with subtending bracts. Leaves: Alternate. Basal leaves stalked, stalks winged, stem leaves stalkless, widely attached. Blade elongated–lanceolate–ovate, shallowly toothed, with crinkled margins, both sides hairy. Fruit: 4-parted schizocarp. Mericarps elliptic, short-tapered, brown, with granular surface, approx. 3 mm long. Flowering time: June–August.
Grain fields, gardens, roadsides, waste ground, harbours.
Buglossa (Portuguese)
I've always thought that this plant was a small variety of Veronica/Speedwell, as that's what the flowers look like. However, its leaves are fuzzier and more pointed, like chickweed. Does anyone know the real id?
Spotted on Mar 15, 2009
Submitted on Sep 11, 2011
