Borage characteristics

What is a borage plant?

Characteristics of borage (Borago officinalis)

Common noun: Borage, Common borage, Cool-tankard, Tailwort

Scientific noun: Borago officinalis L.

Family. Borage family – Boraginaceae

Habitat: In places containing organic waste.

Borage description

Annual hispid plant of the Borage family – boraginaceae- up to 60 cm.

Erect stems covered with stiff hairs.

Lower leaves petiolated, ovate, in basal rosette; upper leaves sessile.

Flowers grouped in pendulous cymes, with a blue corolla, till 2,5 cm wide; stamens forming a cuneate group, purple.

Picking-up and storing Borage

Leaves must be collected when they begin to grow, at the end of winter or beginning of spring. Flowers during all summer. All of them must be dried in the shade and kept in a dry, clean place in a cloth bag.

borage
Borage plants

Components of Borage:

  • Acids: acetic, lactic (plant) ascorbic, nicotinic (leaves)
  • Sugars: arabinose, galactose (Plant)
  • Vitamins: (beta-carotene), C (ascorbic- acid), Choline (leaves)
  • Minerals: Calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus (leaves) cobalt (plant)
  • Fiber (plant)
  • Mucilage (plant)
  • Tannins (plant)
  • Alkaloids (plant)

punto rojo More information on borages

This article was endorsed by Montserrat Enrich - Journalist specializing in edible wild plants and plant uses.
Editorial
Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

21 November, 2023

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