Viper's Bugloss is a flowering plant in the borage family. Viper's Bugloss is native to most of Europe, as well as western and central Asia. Viper's Bugloss was introduced to North America where it has naturalized and has become very prevalent in the north-eastern areas of the continent. Where the Viper's bugloss is an invasive species; humans are trying to regulate the plant by weeding it out of gardens and natural areas. The genus name echium comes from the Greek word echion which is the Greek name for viper's bugloss. The species name vulgare means 'common'. The common name 'viper's bugloss' comes from the old practice of drying the plant and using it as a remedy for snake bites.
There are currently no commercial applications for viper's bugloss.
Within the realm of rational and holistic medicine, viper's bugloss was once considered to be a preventative and remedy for viper, and other snake, bites. Like other members of the borage family, viper's bugloss has many similar actions, especially in its sweat-inducing and diuretic effects. In recent times, however, viper's bugloss has fallen out of use, partly due to lack of interest in its medicinal potential and partly to its content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are toxic in isolation. An infusion of the plant is taken internally as a diuretic and in the treatment of fevers, headaches, and chest conditions. The juice of viper's bugloss is an effective emollient for reddened and delicate skins, it is used as a poultice or plaster to treat boils and carbuncles. The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use. The roots contain the healing agent allantoin. The plant is said to be efficacious in the treatment of snake bites. When chopped up finely, the fresh flowering heads of viper's bugloss can be made into a poultice for treating whitlows and boils.
Please note that MIROFOSS does not suggest in any way that plants should be used in place of proper medical and psychological care. This information is provided here as a reference only.
Viper's Bugloss has been listed as a toxic plant. However there are reports that the young leaves can be eaten, raw or cooked and can be used as a spinach substitute.
Please note that MIROFOSS can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the consumption of plant species which are found in the wild. This information is provided here as a reference only.
Viper's Bugloss grows in Calcareous and light dry soils, especially on cliffs near the sea. It is also found on walls, old quarries and gravel pits. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and the plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It is noted for attracting wildlife.
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Viper's Bugloss is a biennial, or monocarpic perennial, plant growing to 30cm to 80cm tall, with rough, hairy, lanceolate leaves growing 1cm to 15cm long. Flowers form in a cyme scorpiod, one sided, cluster. Each flower starts as a pink bloom and matures into a blue, funnel shaped, 15mm to 20mm long bloom with five petals, five sepals, 5 stamens, and one long stalked pistil. The flowers of viper's bugloss are pollinated by Bees, flies, lepidoptera The plant produces four angular nutlet seeds in each flower.
| Plant Height | 30cm to 80cm |  |
| Habitat | Fields, Roadsides, Waste places | |
| Leaves | Lanceolate | |
| Leaf Margin | Ciliate | |
| Leaf Venation | Cross-venulate | |
| Stems | Hairy Stems | |
| Flowering Season | June to October | |
| Flower Type | Elongated clusters of funnel shaped florets | |
| Flower Colour | Blue | |
| Pollination | Bees, Insects | |
| Flower Gender | Flowers are hermaphrodite and the plants are self-fertile | |
| Fruit | Small Nutlets | |
| USDA Zone | 3A (-37.3°C to -39.9°C) cold weather limit |
The following health hazards should be noted when handling or choosing a location to viper's bugloss:
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TOXICITY Viper's Bugloss contains a number of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. As a member of the genus Borage, it is considered to be potentially toxic. |
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SKIN IRRITANT |
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-Click here- or on the thumbnail image to see an artist rendering, from The United States Department of Agriculture, of viper's bugloss. (This image will open in a new browser tab) |
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-Click here- or on the thumbnail image to see a magnified view, from The United States Department of Agriculture, of the seeds created by viper's bugloss for propagation. (This image will open in a new browser tab) |
Viper's Bugloss can be referenced in certain current and historical texts under one other name:
Viper's Bugloss can be translated into the following select languages:
| Arabic | فيبرز بوغلوس | Bulgarian | Вибратори | Chinese (Sim) | |
| Croatian | Czech | Danish | |||
| Dutch | Esperanto | Estonian | |||
| Finnish | French | German | |||
| Greek | Hebrew | Hungarian | |||
| Italian | Japanese | バイパーズバグロス | Korean | ||
| Punjabi | ਵੀਪਰਾਂ ਬੁਗਲਾਸ | Lithuanian | Norwegian | ||
| Persian | Polish | Portuguese | |||
| Romanian | Russian | Slovak | |||
| Spanish | Swedish | Tagalog | |||
| Turkish | Ukrainian | Віперс Буглосс | Vietnamese |
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The MIROFOSS database offers free printable garden tags for personal and non-profit use. These tags can be used to properly identify plant samples in a garden. Click on the tags shown on the the screen or -click here- to download a full size jpeg image for a viper's bugloss identification tag; which can be printed on paper or used with a plastic laser printer. |
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What's this? What can I do with it? |
| Description | Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto:McClelland and Stewart Ltd. |
| Description | Fitter, R. & A. (1974). The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins. |
| Description | Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR. |
| Biology | Kartesz, J.T. 1996. Species distribution data at state and province level for vascular plant taxa of the United States, Canada, and Greenland (accepted records), from unpublished data files at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, December, 1996. |
| Folklore | MacKinnon, Kershaw, Arnason, Owen, Karst, Hamersley, Chambers. 2009. Edible & Medicinal Plants Of Canada ISBN 978-1-55105-572-5 |
| Image Rendering | USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. |
| Environment | National Audubon Society. Field Guide To Wildflowers (Eastern Region): Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-40232-2 |
| Physical Identification | National Audubon Society. Field Guide To Wildflowers (Eastern Region): Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-40232-2 |
| February 01, 2018 | The last time this page was updated |
| ©2021 MIROFOSS™ Foundation | |
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