Anchusa azurea
Anchusa azurea, commonly known as Bugloss, is a striking perennial herb celebrated for its intense, sky-blue blossoms. Native to Europe, this hardy plant thrives in sunny, well-drained soils. Beyond its ornamental beauty, it serves as a vital nectar source for pollinators, adding vibrant texture to any medicinal garden.
- Scientific name: Anchusa azurea
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Anchusa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Boraginales | WCVP |
| Family | Boraginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Anchusa | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Anchusa azurea, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is called 牛舌草 (zh-hans), 牛舌草 (zh-hant), and 牛舌草 (zh-hk). In Poland, it is known as Farbownik lazurowy (pl), while in French-speaking areas, it is called Buglosse d'Italie (fr).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 牛舌草 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 牛舌草 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 牛舌草 | Wikidata |
| pl | Farbownik lazurowy | Wikidata |
| fr | Buglosse d'Italie | Wikidata |
| ru | Воловик итальянский | Wikidata |
| ka | პატარძალა | Wikidata |
| az | İtaliya sümürgəni | Wikidata |
| ca | buglossa | Wikidata |
| fi | Sinirasti | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution primarily concentrated across the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found spanning several different nations. Specifically, it inhabits regions including Austria, Belgium, and Germany. Additionally, its range extends through the territories of Czechia and Slovakia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as bugloss or Italian bugloss, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its aerial parts. These above-ground components include the vibrant blue flowers, the stem, and the leaves, all of which contain various bioactive compounds. When preparing herbal remedies, these aerial parts are often harvested and dried to be used in infusions or tinctures to harness their therapeutic potential.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Anchusa azurea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, fatty acids, polyphenols.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Anchusa azurea has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Anchusa azurea has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hemolysis.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hemolysis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |