Alkanna lehmannii

(L.) Taush.

Alkanet, Spanish Bugloss, Dyer's Bugloss

Boraginaceae Edible: Leaves, Vegetable

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Description

A perennial plant. It grows 20 cm high and 25 cm across. It is spreading and almost lies along the ground. It has a woody base and many leaves near the base. It has rather prickly hairy leaves. The leaves are narrow or sword shaped. The lower leaves have stalks but the upper leaves do not have stalks and clasp the stem. These have heart shaped bases. The flowers are bright blue. They are 6-8 mm across and produced on branched stalks. The lower flowers have large leaf-like bracts.

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. A red coloring extracted from the roots is used as a food dye, particularly for cheeses and some wines.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. A red colouring from the roots is used as a food colouring. This is used to colour cheeses and some wines.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It grows on soils near the seaside and calcareous soils. It prefers a well drained loamy soil. It dislikes acid soils. Once established it is very drought tolerant and can survive in hot dry places. Plants can survive temperatures down to about -10°C.

Where It Grows

Australia, Europe, France, Greece, Mediterranean, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed, division or cuttings.

Notes

There are about 30 Alkanna species. A red dye is extracted from its roots.

Synonyms

Alkanna tuberculata (Forssk.) Meikle.Alkanna tinctoria LAnchusa tinctoria (L.) L.Lithospermum tinctorum

References (8)

Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 189
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 64 (As Alkanna tinctoria)
Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 110 (As Alkanna tinctoria)
Hepper, E.N., 1993, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, IVP, England. p 171
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1716

Show all 8 references

Morley, B. & Everard, B., 1970, Wild Flowers of the World. Ebury press. Plate 37
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Prodr. 10:588. 1846