Echium vulgare

Echium vulgare, known as viper's bugloss and blueweed,^[1] is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. It is native to most of Europe and western and central Asia^[2]^[3] and it occurs as an introduced species in north-eastern North America, south-western South America and the South and North Island of New Zealand.^[1]^[4] The plant root was used in ancient times as a treatment for snake or viper bites.^[5] If eaten, the plant is toxic to horses and cattle through the accumulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the liver.^[6]^[7]

^ ^a ^b Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 203.
^ Flora Europaea: Echium vulgare
^ "Echium vulgare". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
^ "Echium vulgare L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
^ "Echium vulgare - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
^ "Guide to Poisonous Plants – College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences". csuvth.colostate.edu. Colorado State University. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
^ Klemow, Kenneth M.; Clements, David R.; Threadgill, Paul F.; Cavers, Paul B. (1 January 2002). "The biology of Canadian weeds. 116. Echium vulgare L.". Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 82 (1): 235–248. doi:10.4141/P01-058.