Common bugloss

Short Description

Common bugloss is a biannual to perennial plant that can grow to a height of one metre.

The leaves seem to grow directly out of the ground (basal) or are alternately arranged on the stem. They are elongated-lanceolate to linear, rough and covered in bristly hairs.

The stem is generally upright and densely covered in stiff hairs. This gives it a blueish-green appearance.

The numerous flowers are arranged in pyramidal and generally highly branched compound flower heads. Individual florets have five petals that are partially fused. Their colour changes over time from crimson red at first opening to monochrome dark purple. At the centre of the flower are five whitish coronal scales.

The fruit is a schizocarp which consists of four mericarps (mericarpic nutlets). Scizocarps are fruits that split into several sections after ripening.

In the city

Common bugloss can frequently be found along dry roadsides, in hedges, uncultivated land and wasteland in towns. It prefers warm, sunny and moderately dry sites with sand or gravel rich in nutrients.

The poisonous bugloss used to be cultivated close to human habitation as a medicinal plant and for the production and was thus able to spread successfully.