Italian Bugloss, Pale bugloss
Echium italicum
Family: Boraginaceae
What it is like
A robust herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1 m tall. It has dense white or yellow bristles. In the first year the leaves are in a flat ring near the ground. The leaves are sword shaped or narrowly oval. The flowers are yellow, pink or bluish-white. They are 10-12 mm long. They occur as many together in a pyramid shaped flower arrangement. The stamen are long and protrude.
There are about 40-60 Echium species all indigenous to the Mediterranean.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows on rocky and grassy habitats.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Crete, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, North Africa, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The fresh young leaves are eaten in soup. They are also roasted with meat. The flower nectar is sucked. CAUTION: It is probably mildly poisonous.
Edible parts
Leaves, flower - nectar, stems
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ayikulagi, Bou chenaf, Engerek itu, Erbo vieio, Guriza top, Halmech, Haricha, Himhim, Lecan et tsour, Lingua di voi, Mijok, Pateroulia, Ouchcham, Sorik, Sorma, Taharadj, Tainast, Voidoglosses, Yaglica, Yakar ot