Last updated: 20th September 2002

BUGLOSS

Family: Boraginaceae

Genus: Lycopsis

Species: arvensis

(See also Echium Spp.)
Source: Prof. Dr Otto Wilhelm Thomé
Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz. 1885, Gera, Germany		 Source: http://erick.dronnet.free.fr

Contents

General Background
Details of Quality Characteristics
Current Production and Yields
Constraints upon Production
Markets and Market Potential
Other Information
Research
Useful Websites
BioMat Net
Contacts
References

General Background
An erect, very bristly annual or biennial, growing between 15 and 50 cm, the hairs of which have swollen bulbous bases. The lower leaves are stalked, with the upper leaves attached directly by the base without stalk or peduncle. Flowering occurs in June-July. Flowers are bright blue with white scales at the throat.

Bugloss is native on light sandy and chalky soils in arable fields, also in sandy heaths and near the sea. It thrives on moderately moist sandy and gravelly soils with moderate to low calcium content. Bugloss is widely distributed and locally common throughout the greater part of Europe and Asia. However it is absent from the extreme north and south.


Details of Quality Characteristics
No information available


Current Production and Yields
No information available


Constraints upon Production
Bugloss can not be grown in the extreme North and South due to the extreme climates. Lycopsis arvensis is an alternative host of beet cyst nematode in greenhouse conditions but reproduction has not been observed in a field situation to date. The plants are able to harden and acclimatize very efficiently (80-90%) to a wide range of conditions.


Markets and Market Potential
Bugloss can be useful for both cosmetic and medicinal uses although the medicinal uses have not yet been fully exploited and confirmed. It is thought that Lycopsis arvensis can be used as a direct action anticoagulant, it is proven to show 90-95% inhibition of the transformation of fibrinogen to fibrin.


Other Information
The rough hairs of Bugloss have irritant properties (Woods 1962). The crop is sown in April-May and then swathed in July-August, it is then combine harvested one week later.

The flowers on the bugloss plants are noted for being attractive to a wide range of wildlife, particularly bees and other insects.

Lycopsis arvensis can be a problem if established as a weed or volunteer in a crop, it can reduce or eliminate crop growth and is difficult to control with normal application rates of herbicides.


Research


Useful Websites

http://www.antirrhium.org/~stueber/thome/band4/takfel-021.htlm

http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ - General plant database providing a wide range of information on all aspects of production


BioMat Net


Contacts


References