Echium vulgare It is a species of biennial herbaceous plant of weed condition that belongs to the Boraginaceae family. Known vulgarly as bugloss, suckers, blue grass, ox tongue, viborera, viperina or "bundle-mañosa", it is a native herb of Asia Minor and Europe.
It is an herb with erect, hispid and little branched stems, a taproot, fleshy, basal and caulinar leaves, covered with appressed hairs. The blue-violet tubular flowers are arranged along the floral scape, forming an aromatic and melliferous inflorescence..
Its natural habitat is located in fallows, abandoned crops, ditches, pastures, meadows, banks, slopes, embankments or any land intervened in full sun exposure. It has therapeutic properties with a diuretic, emollient and healing effect; however, its consumption is restricted due to the presence of certain toxic alkaloids.
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Herbaceous plant with cylindrical, erect, simple or branched stems, covered by numerous brown or reddish spots and a very rough dense hairiness. Biennial species, during the first year it presents only vegetative growth in the form of a rosette, in the second year it develops a stem that reaches up to 100 cm in height and a floral scape..
Basal leaves are oblong-lanceolate and seated, the upper ones petiolate and oval or lanceolate, arranged alternately. Blade fleshy with a central nerve from the base to the apex, appressed hairs and entire margins, measures 50-150 mm long by 10-20 mm wide.
The zygomorphic flowers are characterized by a perianth divided into five lobes of blue-purplish or red-purplish color with five prominent stamens. The calyx is divided to the base, the 10 mm long tubular corolla is crowned by 5 lanceolate pubescent petals.
Flowering occurs from the beginning of spring to mid-summer. The flowers are grouped in terminal or axillary inflorescences forming floral clusters in the form of scorpioid cymes..
The fruit is an achene divided into four parts or a hard, cylindrical and crested tetranúcula 2-3 mm long by 1-2 mm wide. The shape of the fruit resembles the head of the viper. Inside there are 4 brown seeds.
Mucilaginous plant that contains traces of the toxic alkaloids equiin or cinoglossin, the glycoalkaloid consolidin and the product of its hydrolysis, consolicin. In addition, certain steronic compounds, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, choline and tannins have been identified in roots, stems, leaves and flowers..
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Subfamily: Boraginoideae
- Gender: Echium
- Species: Echium vulgare L.
- Echium: the name of the genus comes from the Greek "echium" which means "viper", due to the triangular shape of its seeds that resembles the head of the viper.
- vulgar: the specific adjective in Latin means "common or vulgar".
- Echium vulgare subsp. vulgar: plant with sericeous leaves with few mushrooms at the pustulate base. The corolla measures 10-15 mm and the androecium has 4-5 exerted stamens.
- Echium vulgare subsp. pustultum: plant with bristly leaves with multiple mushrooms clearly at the base. The corolla measures 11-21 mm and the androecium has 3-5 exerted stamens.
The viborera is found in the wild along roads and highways, preferably on anthropic lands in association with other ruderal species. In fact, it develops on heavy and nitrified soils, with acidic or basic pH, from sea level to 2,200 meters above sea level..
Its seeds are easily dispersed by the wind and grow spontaneously on land where organic waste from agricultural activity is deposited. Its presence is common around crop fields, pastures, fallows, trails and areas dedicated to livestock exploitation..
It is a plant native to Europe and the Middle East, which is widely distributed in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere around the world. It is located throughout Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula, Asia, North Africa and North America.
The viborera contains traces of the alkaloid equine or cinoglosin, which in high concentrations can paralyze the nervous system. However, its low concentration in the vibrator makes it harmless, being used in herbal medicine for its diuretic, emollient and sudorific action..
It is customary to consume an infusion prepared with fresh leaves, sweetened with honey and a few drops of lemon on an empty stomach, no more than three times in a row. Its consumption is indicated for the treatment of the common cold and other respiratory conditions. It also has a diaphoretic effect.
The presence of certain tannins and alkaloids gives it diuretic properties. The consumption of an infusion of its flowers is recommended to soothe rheumatic pain and the treatment of obesity.
On the other hand, the leaves and flowers contain mucilages with a demulcent action. Cooks on an empty stomach are convenient to relieve symptoms of bronchitis and dry cough. Used as a gargle, reduces sore throat.
Topically, macerated fresh flowers are used as a poultice to heal skin infections such as chilblains and boils, as well as ingrown toenails. The juice extracted from stems and leaves is used for its healing and emollient action for aesthetic purposes to relieve inflamed and reddened skin.
The tender stems, harvested before or shortly after flowering, well peeled and washed, are used as a salad dressing. It is not advisable to consume the old and dry leaves, as they contain toxic compounds whose consumption can alter the proper functioning of the liver.
The roots have a high content of tannins from which a crimson colorant is obtained. At an industrial level, it is used to dye wool, fabrics and fabrics in reddish tones.
The species Echium vulgare It is a wild herb that has various applications in gardening. It is often used to delimit flower beds, as well as to cover hillsides, slopes or slopes along roads and paths.
Its propagation in the wild is carried out thanks to the natural dispersal of its seeds. Commercially, it multiplies in the same way, by means of seeds, directly in the field and during the spring.
- The viborera requires full sun exposure and mild climate to thrive effectively. Does not tolerate low winter temperatures or shading.
- It grows on loose, well-drained soils, with a high content of organic matter and free from ponding. It is recommended to fertilize with mineral fertilizer or organic fertilizer about 3-4 times during flowering.
- It is recommended to remove withered and dry flower stems to favor the emission of new shoots.
- Under conditions of low relative humidity and high temperature, the presence of spider mites is frequent, which is controlled by physical methods or the use of ecological products..
- The ecosystems of coastal environments are the ideal ones for the development of the viborera.
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