Echium plantagineum, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 99

11. E. plantagineum L. , Mantissa Alt. 202 (1771)

(£. lycopsis L. pro parte, E. maritimum Willd. ).

Erect, softly hairy, annual or biennial 20-60 cm, with 1 to many flowering stems. Basal leaves 50-140 x c. 15 mm, ovate, with prominent lateral veins and soft appressed setae; cauline leaves oblong to lanceolate, the uppermost more or less cordate at the base. Inflorescence usually branched. Calyx 7-10 mm at anthesis, up to 15 mm in fruit. Corolla 18-30 mm, infundibuliform, blue becoming pink through purple, hairy on veins and margins only, usually with 2 exserted stamens. In =16. Roadsides, fields and sandy areas near the sea. S. & W. Europe, northwards to S. W. England; an occasional casual elsewhere. Al Az BI Br Bu Co Cr Ga G r Hs It Ju Lu Rs (C, K) Sa Si Tu.