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August 26, 2007 : Borago officinalis
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Keywords: Boraginaceae | Borago officinalis L. | British Columbia, Canada
Botany Photo of the Day will have brief written entries on weekends, holidays and my vacations from April through September. – Daniel
Thank you to roselea@Flickr from British Columbia for sharing today's photograph (original titled “Blue” via UBCBG BPotD Flickr Pool). Aptly named!
Although native to the Middle East, the range of borage has expanded throughout the Mediterranean region and into central and eastern Europe, along with introduction to other regions of the world. Borage is considered a neglected horticultural crop by Nuez and Bermejo; the authors point out its relatively scant cultivation as a crop, despite its many food uses. Gernot Katzer adds more details about the culinary uses of Borago officinalis on his valuable Spice Pages site.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at August 26, 2007 12:00 AM
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Posted by: LocalLinda at August 26, 2007 6:04 AM
Borago officinalis - Z7 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Borago, bor-a-go; derivation uncertain, may be from mediaeval L. borra or burra, rough hair in reference to rough foliage. Linnaeus states name to be corruption of corago [L. cor, the heart, ago, to act] from its use in medicine as a heart sedative.
Officinalis, of-fis-in-a-lis, of the shop [herbal]. - Plant Names Simplified, Johnson and Smith.
Posted by: Beverley at August 26, 2007 7:56 AM
We have this volunteered in the garden. Enjoy its odor, but the leaves are too hairy to enjoy in a salad unless they are finely chopped.
Who knew it was so photogenic?
Posted by: Christiaanc at August 26, 2007 8:49 AM
Ditto; this volunteers under our work table in the vegetable garden where I volunteer at Green Spring (public county)Gardens in Fairfax County, Va. It contributes as much as I do - it's so pretty we can't pull it up!
Posted by: bev at August 26, 2007 2:24 PM
This is widespread in the Bay Area - growing in both areas where it's desired and wild in the parks.
Posted by: Eric in SF at August 26, 2007 2:40 PM
Solanaceae?
Posted by: Cherie at August 26, 2007 2:53 PM
In a salad, it is the flowers, not the leaves that are so enjoyable! And beautiful!
Posted by: Elizabeth at August 26, 2007 3:31 PM
What a lovely picture of Borage. In all the herb gardens I design I all ways plant Borge for the wonderful blue floweres (which are nice in salads). They self sown here in western Massachusetts
Thanks you for the great photo.
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at August 26, 2007 4:54 PM
Cherie - Boraginaceae. Daniel always put the plant family as the first (and usually only) keyword at the very top, right under the date and plant name.
Other well-known members of the Boraginaceae are the Echium (many from the Canary Islands), Anchusa(many members of this genus are pretty but annoying weeds), and the fascinating Tournefortia acutiflora.
Posted by: Eric in SF at August 27, 2007 8:03 AM
A key ingredient in the Pimm's cup.
Posted by: max at August 27, 2007 1:45 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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It may be that borage has been neglected as a horticultural crop because the best customers tend to die of liver failure. Anyone thinking about eating it in quantity should note this statement from Gernot Katzer's page (linked above):