Anchusa
(from anchousa, paint for the skin; use of some species). ORD. Boragineae. Very pretty hardy annuals, biennials, or perennials. Flowers in scorpoid racemes; corolla funnel-shaped; throat closed by erect, obtuse processes; nuts four, one-celled, inversely conical, with a contraction towards the point, fixed to the bottom of the calyx, perforated and concave at the base. Of easy culture, in ordinary soils, and preferring a sunny situation. Propagated by seeds, which should be sown in early spring in pots of sandy soil, when most of them will germinate in three or four weeks, some less. The honey-bee is very partial to this genus.
A. Agardhii (Agardh's). fl. purple, on short pedicels, distant, disposed in terminal racemes, which are generally conjugate. July. l. linear-lanceolate, tubercled, strigose. h. 1ft. Siberia, 1820. Perennial. Rare. A. azurea (blue). Synonymous with A. italica.
A. Barrelieri (Barrelier's). fl. blue, with a white tube and yellow throat; racemes conjugate, panicled, bracteate. May. l. oblong-lanceolate, denticulated, hispid. h. 1ft. to 2ft. South Europe, 1820. Perennial. SYNS. Buglossum Barrelieri, Myosotis obtusum.
A. capensis (Cape).* fl. blue; racemes terminal, panicled. July. l. linear lanceolate, hispid. Stem simple, hairy. h. 1 1/2ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1800. Requires greenhouse protection in winter. Biennial.
A. italica (Italian). fl. bright blue or purple, in panicled racemes. Summer. l. lanceolate, entire, shining; radical ones sometimes 2ft. long. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Caucasus, &c., 1810. One of the best. SYNS. A. azurea, A. paniculata. A. latifolia (broad-leaved). Synonymous with Nonnea rosea. A. myosotidiflora (Myosotidium-flowered). fl. fine blue; throat yellow; raceme terminal, panicled, bractless. July. l. large, radical ones on long petioles, reniformly cordate; those of the stem sessile, ovate, hairy. h. 1ft. Siberia, 1825. A pretty plant. SYN. Myosotis macrophylla.
A. officinalis (officinal). fl. blue or purple, sessile, imbricate; spikes joined by pairs, terminal. June to October. l. lanceolate, hispid; radical ones tufted. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Britain, naturalised here and there. A. o. incarnata is a variety with flesh coloured flowers. A. paniculata (panicled). Synonymous with A. italica. A. sempervirens (evergreen). fl. rich blue, in short axillary spikes, generally leafy at the base. May. l. broadly ovate, lower ones upon long stalks. Stem erect. h. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. Perennial; here and there naturalised in Britain.
A. tinctoria (dyers'). Alkanet. fl. deep blue; tube blood-colour; racemes usually twin, terminal, many-flowered. June. l. oblong, hispid. h. 6in. South Europe, 1596. A diffuse perennial.