56.) BORAGINACEAE - Borage family - Pages

56.) BORAGINACEAE - Borage family

BORAGINACEAE - Borage family

Subfamily BORAGINOIDEAE

LITHOSPERMUM L.

Lithospermum officinale L. (Common Gromwell) / General Scarce Scattered and localised in scrubby grassland, old quarries, scree slopes, open scrub, woodland rides and clearings on stony, well-drained calcareous soils. It has declined.

AEGONYCHON Gray

Aegonychon purpureocaeruleum (L.) Holub (Lithospermum purpureocaeruleum L.) (Purple Gromwell) / Woodland Rare A rare plant in woodland margins and openings, amongst scrub and on hedgebanks overlaying limestone. As a native, confined to localities in the south-western portion of the region, including: Ball Wood, Hutton Hill, Loxton Hill, Sandford Hill, Banwell (on a lane bank), Cleeve Hill, and Weston Big Wood. Historically also occurred at Lime Breach Wood. Also occasionally grown in gardens and found as an escape elsewhere; as at "Henbury near Bristol; in Mrs. Brookes' wood, where I suspect it has been planted, May, 1835" (White, 1912 [in BMAG]). More recently recorded as a naturalised remnant of a ruined garden above the quarry at Wick Rocks (first found in 1999 by ?); below Dower House (the Yellow Castle), Stoke Park in 2011 by ? (seen there recently in 2024 during a BNS meeting); Pensford in 2013 by ?; and East Twerton, Bath in 2019 by ?.

GLANDORA

Glandora diffusa (Lag.) D.C. Thomas (Scrambling-gromwell - GBIF, Purple Gromwell) - [on DB as Lithodora diffusa] General Extinct A native of Spain; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1940 by ? [BMAG] and at Wick in 2012 by ?.

[The Wick record has got to be a mistake.]

BUGLOSSOIDES Moench

Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I.M. Johnst. (Lithospermum arvense L.) (Field Gromwell) General Extinct A plant of arable fields and other disturbed ground. Not recorded in recent years. It formerly predominated to the east of the region on Jurassic limestone. It was last seen at Eastern-in-Gordano in 2002 by ?.

ECHIUM L.

Echium vulgare L. (Viper's-bugloss) / General Scarce Thinly scattered over the region in thin, open, disturbed grassland, old quarries, brownfield sites, roadsides, railway sidings, dry field margins, spoil heaps, and on newly made ground. Also grown in gardens and included in seed mixes where it escapes or persists. As a genuine native it is rare. First recorded locally by Lobel (1570) " Lycopsis vel Lycapsis degener Anchusa...in Anglia via quae Bathonia et Bristolia Londium ducit per messes" [in England the road which leads from Bath and Bristol to London during the harvests].
Echium italicum L. (which sspp.? - ssp. italicum? - Kew) (Pale Bugloss) 1917 General Extinct "Alien; from the Mediterranean region, very rarely seen in Britain. A beautiful species. On the Avonbank Estate, St. Philip's, Bristol; July, 1907. Two plants there in 1909. Portishead Station-yard, 1909" (White, 1912); and Cranbrook Road, Redland in 1927 by H.J. Gibbons.

[Where's the 1917 record? An error for 1927?]

Echium plantagineum L. (Purple Viper's-bugloss) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Rare A rare casual garden escape; found recently at Brandon Hill in 2016 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen and on Muller Road, Horfield in 2017 by R.J. Higgins. Historically recorded from: St Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe; Eastville in 1918; and Avonmouth Docks in 1927 by C.I. Sandwith [BMAG].

[More records on BSBI. Perhaps don't need to mention modern records.]

Echium tuberculatum Hoffmanns. & Link (Tuberculate Viper's-bugloss?, Portugese Viperina - RHS) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Extinct A native of the western Mediterranean; recorded near Bristol in 1917 by I.M. Roper - a first and only record for the British Isles.

[Check to see if record is in BMAG to find out more precise location.]

Echium pininana (Giant Viper's-bugloss) General Rare A popular and grand garden plant, towering to 4 m; found self-seeding onto pavements and at the bases of walls. It is a monocarpic perennial, growing for several years until it reaches the stage of flowering and then dying. It can become long-established in some spots such as on the corner of Selborne Road, Ashley Down, Bristol where it still persists; having been known since 2014 by D. Peters during his walks to school.

[More records on BSBI.]

CERINTHE L.

Cerinthe major L. (ssp. major) (Greater Honeywort) General Very Rare A very rare garden escape or casual often close to its garden source. First found on a disturbed roadside bank at Stockwood, Bristol in 2004 and at Scotland Bottom, between Bristol and Keynsham in 2004 by I.P. Green; Camerton, Peasedown St John and Lower Peasedown in 2007 by Cam Valley Wildlife Group [should I change this to H.J. Crouch?]; Eastbourne Avenue, Walcot, Bath in 2019 by sarah1290 [CNC record]; Bayham Road, Windmill Hill, Bristol in 2019 by simonejacobs6151 [CNC record]; Egerton Road, Bishopston, Bristol in 2020 by R.J. Higgins; clevedon in 2020s by ? [BSBI record]; and recorded on several occasions around Bristol by D. Peters: seedlings emerged from recently disturbed ground in St Mary's Churchyard, Henbury in 2022; Victoria park, escaped from a flower bed in 2024; and lastly found escaped from next door in a derelict front garden on Church Road, Bishopston in 2025.
Cerinthe minor L. ssp. minor (Lesser Honeywort) - [White, 1912] General Extinct A "rare introduction from the Orient. On made ground, St. Philip's, Bristol, 1907 to 1909. The only record." (White, 1912).

PULMONARIA L.

Pulmonaria officinalis L. (Lungwort) / General Uncommon Frequently grown in gardens and escapes and found naturalised in rough grassy places, road verges, woodland, river banks, disturbed places and as a relict of cultivation.
Pulmonaria saccharata Mill. (Bethlehem-sage) General Very Rare Recorded at Perrett's Park, Bristol in 2015 by D. Hawkins.

[Any more details?]

SYMPHYTUM L.

Symphytum officinale L. (Common Comfrey) / General Frequent Locally frequent on the banks of rivers, rhynes and ditches, besides ponds, lakes, roadsides, in damp woodland, on hedgebanks and field margins. The earliest local record was made from St Anne's Wood, Brislington in 1834 by Bristol Antiquarian G.W. Braikenridge. It is probably over-recorded for Russian Comfrey - S. x uplandicum.
ssp. officinale General Frequent The nominate subspecies with flowers of various shades, usually purplish or pink but can be cream, striped dark and light purple or in rare cases white; always staying pure (never changing like Forget-me-nots) but fades with age and with a corolla measuring greater than 16 mm. It is also a taller plant with stems often greater than 1 m in height. Often found near water, having a preference for places such as river banks. It is over-recorded for S. x uplandicum.
var. officinale - [on DB as var. purpureum] General Scarce The nominate plant with purple corollas of various shades. Appears to be generally quite rare in our region. Many plants do not satisfactorily fit into here. Intermediate plants between this and the next, with cream purple-striped corollas are often found in absence of both varieties. They are probably the result of a cross between the two.
var. ochroleucum DC. (Common Comfrey) General Uncommon With cream corollas. Appears to be the dominant form with us.
ssp. bohemicum (F.W. Schmidt) Čelak. (Bohemian Comfrey) Wetland Very Rare Discovered new to the region in 2022 by D. Peters. It is easily confused with the cream-flowered S. officinale var. ochroleucum but is a smaller, slenderer and less branched plant, and diagnostically has corollas measuring less than (not greater than) 16 mm. Those measured in our region have been around 13 mm. They can apparently also sometimes be reddish. The leaves are also more yellowish but in more shaded situations this is less apparent; (as yet) never found far from water - places such as along rhynes, ditches and river banks. It is graded as Nationally rare and previously only known from a few fenland type habitats in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and South Lincolnshire. It was first found at Keynsham Memorial Park then again two weeks later at Shapwick Heath (south of the region) during a Bramble Study week led by R.D. Randall in company with C. & M.A.R. Kitchen, A. Biddle and J. Norton where a specimen was taken and pressed to be sent off to the national referee for Symphytum (Bob Leany); another was found an hour later at Westhay Moor. The national referee later confirmed it, replying "I see know reason to believe it is anything other than an extension of its known natural range". The specimen is now in the herbarium at Norwich Castle Museum. Since then, D. Peters and the late R.D. Randall took up the study of this plant and its lookalikes. It has been found all over the rhyne systems of North Somerset, it being particularly plentiful in places between Clevedon and Nailsea. It was recorded for the first time in the northern of the region from Sea Mills, Bristol in 2023 by G. Balfry and confirmed by D. Peters. The Gordano Valley and Avonmouth would be ideal places to look for it. It may well exist in scattered localities in suitable habitats throughout the southern half of lowland Britain.
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. bohemicum (F.W. Schmidt) Čelak. x S. x uplandicum (Bohemian x Russian Comfrey) Wetland Very Rare Was found beside a rhyne at Clevedon near Cook's Lane during a SRP meeting in 2022 by D. Peters. The corollas were about 14 mm. There were good-sized populations of both parents and the two were mingling, with plants of varying intermediacy - possibly caused by further backcrossing to S. x uplandicum.
Symphytum officinale x S. asperum = S. x *uplandicum Nyman (Russian Comfrey) / General Frequent Frequently naturalised on roadsides, railway lines, brownfield sites, allotments, and along the banks of rhynes and ditches. This is the comfrey most often cultivated for creating the pungent homemade fertiliser 'comfrey tea' and was historically also used as a fodder crop. This species is much confused with purple-flowered S. officinale and it is very variable due to its hybrid origin and ability to backcross; but is best told by its stem-leaves being petiolate or shortly decurrent - the 'wings' pass only part of the way down the stem internode at most (strongly so and passing the next lower leaf in S. officinale) and by the corollas changing colour as they mature (like Forget-me-nots), usually starting off pinkish purple in bud soon turning blue (remaining the same but fading with maturity in S. officinale). Also the stems, leaves and calyx are more bristly (covered in more rigid hairs), the calyx is smaller (5 - 7 as oppose to 7 - 8 mm), and the nutlets (seeds) are minutely tuberculate and dull in S. x uplandicum but are smooth and shiny in S. officinale. It is referred to in old texts as S. peregrinum*.
Symphytum x uplandicum x *S. tuberosum* (Russian x Tuberous Comfrey) - [on DB as Symphytum officinale x asperum x tuberosum] General Very Rare Was recorded at Brandon Hill in 2014 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen; at Glen Frome in 2015 by ?; and at Combe Down, Bath in 2016 by ?.
Symphytum asperum Lepech. (Rough Comfrey) / General Very Rare A very rare introduction. Recorded at Priestpool in 1987 by D. Lawrence and R.J. Higgins; Queen's Charlton Cement Works in 1992 by P. Rooney; Goose Green, Yate in 1992 by P. Wilson; Near Stanton Prior in 2003 and Tyntesfield Estate, Wraxall in 2006 by P. Millman; and in the Great Quarry, Avon Gorge in 2012 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen.

[Further records on BSBI].

Symphytum tuberosum L. (Tuberous Comfrey) General Very Rare A very rare introduction found on roadsides, railway banks and woodland. Recently encountered in abundance along about a 300 m stretch of the M48 at Aust in 2002 by ?; seen here again in 2004 by ?; and again in 2010 by ?; at Narroways, Bristol in 2012 by ?; again in 2018 by ?; and in 2020 by ?; from ST76Q in 2000s by ?; ST57B in 2010s by ?; ST57C in 2010s by ?; ST45J in 2020s by ?; ST57X in 2020s by ?; and ST58U in 2020s by ? [BSBI records].

[Perhaps don't need to mention records.]

Symphytum grandiflorum x ?S. x uplandicum = S. x *hidcotense* P.D. Sell (S. officinale x asperum x grandiflorum = S. 'Hidcote Blue') Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue') (Hidcote Comfrey) / General Uncommon Scattered over the region and established on roadsides, lane-sides, and as a garden escape close to habitation. First recorded in our region at Winscombe in 1999 by E.J. McDonnell and Wraxall, Failand in 1999 by I.P. Green.
Symphytum grandiflorum DC. (Creeping Comfrey) / General Uncommon Widely established on road verges, wood borders and hedgebanks. It has greatly increased since 2000. First recorded on Wraxall Hill, North Somerset in 1953 by C.I. Sandwith.

[Many more records on BSBI.]

Symphytum orientale L. (White Comfrey) General Scarce Scattered over the region in rough disturbed places such as roadsides, railway banks and brownfield sites. It appears to be increasing. First recorded from Prestow Wood to Bullhouse Lane, Wrington in 1984 by R. Fitzgerald.
Symphytum caucasicum M. Bieb. (Caucasian Comfrey) General Very Rare A very rare introduction found on road and lane-sides. First recorded on a verge at Combe Hay in 2001 by Cam Valley Wildlife Group [H.J. Crouch]; seen there again in 2011, 2013 and 2016 by C. Iles; North Field, Littleton-on-Severn in 2011 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen; Stratford Lane, West Harptree in 2012 by ? [iRecord]; and by the sea wall, just south of New Passage in 2012 by J.P. Martin.

[More records on BSBI.]

Symphytum bulbosum K.F. Schimper (Bulbous Comfrey) General Very Rare Only recorded at Baden Hill, Cuttsheath near Tytherington in 2007 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen.

BRUNNERA Steven

Brunnera macrophylla (Adams) I.M. Hohnst. (Great Forget-me-not) - General Rare A rare garden escape found in disturbed places such as road verges and track-sides; most prominent around Bath. First recorded on a roadside verge at Lansdown & Upper Farm, Langridge, in 1985 by R.D. Randall.

ANCHUSA L.

Anchusa ochroleuca M. Bieb (Yellow Alkanet) - [White, 1912] General Extinct "Alien; from Southern Russia. On made ground in St. Philip's Marsh, Bristol, 1908-9. A very distinct species with pale (almost white) flowers. Introduced, doubtless, with imported grain." (White, 1912).

[2013 record almost certainly a mistake.]

Anchusa officinalis L. (Alkanet) 1917 General Extinct A former casual of city ports, docks and working yards. Recorded at "St. Philip's Marsh, on made ground: a good many plants every year since 1902, when it was first noticed [also recorded there in 1916 by C.I. Sandwith]. By the G.W.R. at Fox's Wood quarries, Brislington, 1891 and 1892. Shown to Mr. D. Fry and me by Chas. Withers, who at that time was employed on the line. Since his retirement the place has not been revisited, as permission to roam along the railway between Bristol and Bath has been refused to us. We saw several other aliens growing at the spot, all sprung evidently from sweepings of goods trucks then lying in quantity by the sidings. Several plants in Portishead Station-yard from 1905 to the present time. In the herbarium of the late Miss Powell there was a specimen gathered at Clevedon, in July, 1839, by Miss E. Braikenridge" (White, 1912); Arnos Vale, Brislington in 1917 by I.M. Roper; Avonmouth Docks in 1938 by C.I. Sandwith; and last seen at ST66 in 1960s by ? [BSBI record].

[All modern records need checking as they are likely to be errors for Green-alkanet. 1917 record apparently had narrow bracts and may have represented a distinct species - need to check this.]

Anchusa azurea Mill. (Garden Anchusa, Garden Alkanet) 1912 General Extinct A native of southern Europe; formerly occurred as a "Casual on rubbish in St. Philip's Marsh...with the last species and several other eastern members of the genus which have not been identified. Found too on waste ground near Bath by Mr. S. T. Dunn." (White, 1912). Also found at Avonmouth Docks in 1929 by C.I. Sandwith.

[2018 record from Frenchay Park Road, Frome Vale by Diana Powell needs checking.]

Anchusa hybrida Ten. (A. undulata L. ssp. hybrida (Ten.) Bég. (Hybrid Alkanet - GBIF, Undulate Anchusa - www.cretanflora.com) 1940 General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1939 by ? and again in 1940 by ? .
Anchusa stylosa M. Bieb. (ssp. stylosa) (find common name! - Short-styled Alkanet?) 1939 General Extinct A native of the eastern Mediterranean; recorded at Portishead Station-yard in 1912 by C.I. Sandwith and Ashton Gate in 1939 by ? [BMAG].

LYCOPSIS L.

Lycopsis arvensis L. (Anchusa arvensis (L.) M. Bieb.) (Bugloss) - General Scarce A much declined plant of cultivated and disturbed places, particularly on light sandy soils with rabbit grazing. Occasionally also grown in gardens and escapes.

[Check modern records as some may be mistakes for Viper's-bugloss.]

NONEA Medik.

Nonea lutea (Desr.) DC. (Yellow Monkswort, Yellow Nonea) General Very Rare Recorded at the base of a wall at Frampton Cotterrel in 2023 by D. Hanks.
Nonea pulla (L.) DC. ssp. pulla (Brown Nonea) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Extinct A native of eastern Europe and Russia; recorded at St Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe.

PENTAGLOTTIS Tausch

Pentaglottis sempervirens (L.) Tausch ex L.H. Bailey (Green Alkanet) / General Frequent Frequent and very well-established in shaded spots such as churchards, roadsides, lane banks and track-sides; particularly around Bristol and Bath. This introduction was considered "rather rare" in white's time and appears to have expanded it's range further since 2000.

ASPERUGO L.

Asperugo procumbens L. (Madwort) 1928 General Extinct A native of continental Europe; formerly occurred as a "Colonist in arable fields near Twerton, Bath; casual on waste ground elsewhere...Half a dozen plants on a tip in St. Philip's Marsh, May, 1909. By a slip of the pen, or through some confusion with Anchusa sempervirens [Pentaglottis sempervirens], this plant was reported in 1851 by Mr. S. Rootsey to grow 'at Frenchay; also near the Cherry Orchard below Westbury; and a little at Redland.' But Swete, who received much help from Rootsey, does not mention Asperugo in the Flora Bristoliensis. Several plants with other aliens on some rubbish (sweepings of railway wagons, probably), by Fox's Wood quarries in 1891 and 1892. Shown to Mr. David Fry and me by Chas. Withers. A few small plants in the corner of a field east of Knowle, 1907. Portishead Station-yard, in quantity, 1905...Miss Peck. Abundant there, so far, in every succeeding year. In the cornfields near Bath; Blackstone in Bot. Guide (1805). This was considered to be an error by the Rev. L. Jenyns in his Lecture on the Bath Flora, Dec. 1866; but the record has latterly received ample confirmation. Mr. C. Withers, in 1892, found a considerable quantity in an arable field at Twerton, whence I had it again in 1902 from Miss Martin. Mr. S. T. Dunn also found some near Twerton in 1897...In plenty under a wall by the roadside between Worle and Kewstock, not far from the New Inn, 1903...Miss Peck." (White, 1912). It was last seen at Bristol in 1933 by C.I. Sandwith [B.E.C., 1933, p. 534] (Riddelsdell, 1948). White also gives the name German Madder. It is so named because it was believed to cure madness, particularly from rabies.

Alternative:

A native of continental Europe; formerly occurred as a colonist of arable fields near Bath and a casual of rubbish tips, docks and working yards elsewhere. First mentioned in cornfields near Bath in Blackstone's Bot. Guide (1805) which was considered to be an error until confirmation was made when C. Withers found it in "considerable quantity in an arable field at Twerton." (White, 1912). It was last seen at Bristol in 1933 by C.I. Sandwith [B.E.C., 1933, p. 534] (Riddelsdell, 1948). White also gives the name German Madder. It is so named because it was believed to cure madness, particularly from rabies.

[Where's the 1928 record?]

BORAGO L.

Borago officinalis L. (Borage) / General Uncommon A frequent casual of disturbed and cultivated places, particularly around allotments and on newly made ground. It is also widely grown in gardens and often included in 'pollinator friendly' seed mixes where it often self-seeds onto nearby marginal ground such as at the bases of walls. White and pink forms also sometimes occur.
Borago pygmaea (DC.) Chater & Greuter (Slender Borage) - Rupert Higgins General Very Rare Was recorded in Bishopston, Bristol in 2019 by R.J. Higgins.

TRACHYSTEMON D. Don

Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don (Abraham-Isaac-Jacob) / Woodland Scarce An increasing introduction; established in woodland where it can spread to form large patches. First recorded in our region at Kingsweston, Bristol in 1985 by R. FitzGerald.

[More records on BSBI.]

Subfamily CYNOGLOSSOIDEAE

AMSINCKIA Lehm.

Amsinckia lycopsoides Lehm. (Scarce Fiddleneck) 1912 General Extinct A native of western North America; "Alien; with the last species [A. ] but less frequent. Very like A. angustifolia [A. calycina] in general appearance, but differs in its procumbent stem, broader leaves, and calyx drooping when in fruit." (White, 1912).
Amsinckia calycina (Moris) Chater (Hairy Fiddleneck) 1921 General Extinct A native of western South America; "Introduced with foreign grain, and appearing in small quantity from time to time about our docks and warehouses. On rubbish tipped in St. Philip's Marsh, 1901 and again in 1908. Sparingly on dredgings deposited in the Black Rock Quarry, 1883-4. By the smaller dock at Avonmouth, 1906. Portishead Station-yard; a few plants from 1903 onward. In May, 1909 a much larger patch of it came up on a chicken-run supplied with refuse from an adjacent corn-mill dealing with S. American maize. The country of origin was thus clearly indicated. Distinguished from its congeners by its erect habit, linear-lanceolate leaves, and calyx-lobes erect at maturity." (White, 1912 [as A. angustifolia]).
Amsinckia menziesii (Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. var. intermedia (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) ined. - [Sandwith, 1932 (as A. intermedia)] - check with A. micrantha General

[All our records are Amsinckia micrantha.]

Amsinckia micrantha Suksd. (A. menziesii (Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. var. menziesii) (Common Fiddleneck) General Very Rare Recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by ?; 1931 by ?; Ashton Gate in 1939 by ?; Pool Farm, Hawkesbury Upton in 1999 by M. Everard; at ST66J in 2000s by ?; at Nailsea in 2010s by ?; at Clifton in 2010s by ?; at ST67P in 2010s by ?; and at Bradley Stoke in 2010s by ? [BSBI records]. "A frequent casual in the Docks and other waste places, very variable in size and colour of the corolla." (Sandwith, 1932). This species was much confused in the past

PLAGIOBOTHRYS Fisch. & C.A. Mey.

Plagiobothrys canescens Benth. (which var.? - var. canescens or var. catalinensis (A. Gray) Jeps.? - Kew) (Valley Popcorn-flower) 1917 General Extinct A native of California; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1917 by C.I. Sandwith, teste I.M. Johnston - a first and only record for the British Isles [this was first published as P. tenellus in Rep. B.E.C. 1918 p. 295].
Plagiobothrys stipitatus (Greene) I.M. Johnst. var. stipitatus (Stipitate Forget-me-not) General Extinct A native of western North America; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1933 by ? [BMAG].
Plagiobothrys procumbens (Colla) A. Gray (Procumbent Popcorn-flower, Procumbent Forget-me-not?, Creeping Forget-me-not?) A native of Chile; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1937 by ? [BMAG].

MYOSOTIS L.

Myosotis scorpioides L. (Water Forget-me-not) / Wetland Uncommon Widely distributed and locally frequent in wet boggy places such as ponds and ditches, stream-sides, river banks and damp open woodland. First recorded in our region from St Anne's Wood, Brislington in 1834 by Bristol Antiquarian G.W. Braikenridge. "Few flowers are more ornamental than the Forget-me-not. The plant is a beautiful feature of the upper Frome Valley, where it sometimes occurs in luxuriant masses that are worth traveling far to see at the middle of July." (White, 1912).
Myosotis secunda Al. Murray (Creeping Forget-me-not) - Wetland Very Rare A very rare Forget-me-not of ponds and other wet marshy places. Only recently recorded at Kingston Seymour, North Somerset in 2000 by ?; Lawrence Weston Moor in 2001 by ? [also recorded here in 2020s - BSBI]; Chew Valley Lake in 2003 by ?; Tickenham in 2014 by ?; and Keynsham in 2018 by ?.
Myosotis laxa Lehm. ssp. caespitosa (Schultz) Hyl. ex Nordh. (Tufted Forget-me-not) / Wetland Uncommon Localised in damp marshy places on the margins of ponds, ditches and rhynes; most concentrated on the North Somerset Levels and Moors and very scattered elsewhere.
Myosotis alpestris F.W. Schmidt (ssp. alpestris) (Alpine Forget-me-not) General Very Rare Recorded at Whale Wharf, Littleton Pill in 2022 by S. Parkes.

[Certainly a mistake for M. sylvatica - get rid.]

Myosotis sylvatica Ehrh. ex Hoffm. (Wood Forget-me-not) / General Frequent Frequent in disturbed shady places on road verges, lane-sides and along woodland rides. Also commonly grown in gardens and frequently escapes onto pavements and other nearby ground. It has greatly increased by such means since 2000 but its status as a native in our region is highly doubtful. If it is native it is certainly very rare but its popularity in cultivation will have greatly skewed its native distribution. White (1912) considered it to have "no pretence of being a native plant in the district. Only once have I seen it apparently wild; when in May, 1897 Mr. D. Fry and I met with a single root in the Fir Wood, Clevedon. In other stations from which the plant has been reported I believe the large wood form of M. arvensis [var. sylvestris] has been generally mistaken for it". A white form 'Alba' is sometimes grown in gardens. A single plant of this was found as an escape on Cowmead Walk on the edge of Mina Road Park, St Werburgh's, Bristol in 2024 by D. Peters.
Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill (Field Forget-me-not) / General Common Frequent in dry and disturbed grassy places, at the bases of walls, in brownfield sites, and along woodland rides. This is the only Forget-me-not recorded present on Steep Holm.
var. arvensis General Common The nominate variety with the same status and distribution as the species.
var. sylvestris Schltdl. General Uncommon A taller plant with larger flowers (3-5 mm across) and is sometimes mistaken for M. sylvatica. Appears to be widespread and is also grown in gardens and escapes. "There is to be found in the damp shade of hedge-bottoms and the like a tall form of this species, with larger, more conspicuous flowers and broader leaves" (White, 1912).
Myosotis ramosissima Rochel ssp. ramosissima (Early Forget-me-not) /- Grassland Uncommon Scattered over the region in dry open species-rich grassland, banks, old walls, rocky outcrops, sand dunes, and on anthills.
Myosotis discolor Pers. (Changing Forget-me-not) - Grassland Uncommon Scattered over the region in dry and damp species-rich grassland, on walls and in marshy places.
ssp. discolor Grassland Uncommon The nominate plant with the uppermost pair of stem-leaves nearly opposite and corollas starting off yellow; found in dry open grassy places. Thought to be the more frequent subspecies in our region.
ssp. dubia (Arrond.) Blaise (Changing Forget-me-not) Grassland Scarce Found in wetter situations such as in meadows which are prone to flooding and damp pastures. Very localised. Differs from ssp. discolor in having the uppermost pair of stem-leaves alternate and corollas starting off white or cream.

LAPPULA Moench

Lappula squarrosa (Retz.) Dumort. (Bur Forget-me-not) General Extinct A native of Continental Europe and Asia; formerly occurred as a rare "Casual; occasionally imported with foreign grain, wool, etc. The generic name [then Echinospermum] suggests a seed or fruit peculiarly fitted to travel by adhesion to all parts of the world. For some years on a small colliery heap near Kingswood; now gone. Rubbish tip in St. Philip's Marsh, 1905; Miss Roper. With other aliens on old quarry ground near Twerton, 1897; S.T. Dunn" (White, 1912); "Avonmouth Docks and on other waste ground, frequent" (Sandwith, 1932 [as L. echinata]); last seen there in 1957 by ? [BMAG]; Winscombe in 1987 by E.J. Mcdonnell; Bristol Docks in 1991 by R.J. Higgins and J.P. Martin; and last seen at Temple Meads in 2003 by R. Bland.

HELIOTROPIUM Tourn. ex L.

Heliotropium europaeum L. (European Turn-sole) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean; recorded at Bristol in 1914 by J.W. White; Horfield in 1925 by H.J. Gibbons; Baptist Mills in 1925; Ashley Hill and Avonmouth Docks in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith; and Ashton Gate in 1940 by ? [BMAG].

OMPHALODES Mill.

Omphalodes verna Moench (Blue-eyed-Mary) General Very Rare Alien. First noticed as "Established in a steep, stony wood by the Avon between Hanham and Bitton, where it has been known many years. Shown to me in 1889 by Mr. J. C. House." (White, 1912). Recorded in the same vicinity at Hanham Ferry in 1934 by C.I. Sandwith and at Hanham Court in 1988 by R.J. Higgins and D. Lawrence. In more recent years, recorded at Dolebury Warren in 2000 by J.P. Martin; Clifton, Bristol in 2003 by R. Bland; and at Blagdon in 2016 by M. Webster.

CYNOGLOSSUM L.

Cynoglossum officinale L. (Hound's-tongue) - Grassland Rare Sparsely scattered over the region and localised in dry open species-rich grassland on sandy and calcareous soils; predominantly along the south-western coast of our region. It appears to have declined in recent years. The plant produces a distinctive 'mousy' smell and the name "refers to the shape and texture of the leaves, which have been likened to the tongue of a dog." (White, 1912).

List:

Lithospermum officinale L. (Common Gromwell) / General
Aegonychon purpureocaeruleum (L.) Holub (Stace) Lithospermum purpureocaeruleum L. (NBN) (Purple Gromwell) / Woodland
Glandora diffusa (Lag.) D.C. Thomas (Scrambling-gromwell - GBIF, Purple Gromwell) - [on DB as Lithodora diffusa] General
Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I.M. Johnst. (Stace) Lithospermum arvense L. (NBN) (Field Gromwell) General
Echium vulgare L. (Viper's-bugloss) / General
Echium italicum L. (which sspp.? - ssp. italicum? - Kew) (Pale Bugloss) 1917 General
Echium plantagineum L. (Purple Viper's-bugloss) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Echium tuberculatum Hoffmanns. & Link (Tuberculate Viper's-bugloss?, Portugese Viperina - RHS) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Echium pininana (Giant Viper's-bugloss) General
Cerinthe major L. (ssp. major - Kew, GBIF) (Greater Honeywort) General
Cerinthe minor L. ssp. minor (Lesser Honeywort) - [White, 1912] General
Pulmonaria officinalis L. (Lungwort) / General
Pulmonaria saccharata Mill. (Bethlehem-sage) General
Symphytum officinale L. (ssp. officinale - Stace) (Common Comfrey) / General
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. officinale var. officinale (Common Comfrey) - [on DB as var. purpureum] General
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. officinale var. ochroleucum DC. (Common Comfrey) General
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. bohemicum (F.W. Schmidt) Čelak. (Bohemian Comfrey) Wetland
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. bohemicum (F.W. Schmidt) Čelak. x S. x uplandicum (Bohemian x Russian Comfrey) Wetland
Symphytum officinale x S. asperum = S. x uplandicum Nyman (Russian Comfrey) / General
Symphytum x uplandicum x S. tuberosum (Russian x Tuberous Comfrey) - [on DB as Symphytum officinale x asperum x tuberosum] General
Symphytum asperum Lepech. (Rough Comfrey) / General
Symphytum tuberosum L. (Tuberous Comfrey) General
Symphytum grandiflorum x ?S. x uplandicum = S. x hidcotense P.D. Sell (Stace) Symphytum officinale x asperum x grandiflorum = S. 'Hidcote Blue' (NBN) Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue' (old name) (Hidcote Comfrey) / General
Symphytum grandiflorum DC. (Creeping Comfrey) / General
Symphytum orientale L. (White Comfrey) General
Symphytum caucasicum M. Bieb. (Caucasian Comfrey) General
Symphytum bulbosum K.F. Schimper (Bulbous Comfrey) General
Brunnera macrophylla (Adams) I.M. Hohnst. (Great Forget-me-not) - General
Anchusa ochroleuca M. Bieb (Yellow Alkanet) - [White, 1912] General
Anchusa officinalis L. (Alkanet) 1917 General
Anchusa azurea Mill. (Garden Anchusa - Stace, NBN, GBIF, Garden Alkanet - old flora) 1912 General
Anchusa hybrida Ten. (Kew) Anchusa undulata L. (NBN) ssp. hybrida (Ten.) Bég. (old name) (Hybrid Alkanet - GBIF, Undulate Anchusa - www.cretanflora.com) 1940 General
Anchusa stylosa M. Bieb. (ssp. stylosa - Kew, EDIT) (find common name! - Short-styled Alkanet?) 1939 General
Lycopsis arvensis L. (Stace) Anchusa arvensis (L.) M. Bieb. (NBN) (Bugloss) - General
Nonea lutea (Desr.) DC. (Yellow Monkswort - Stace, GBIF, Yellow Nonea - NBN,) - Frampton Cotterrel, 2023, David Hanks. General
Nonea pulla (L.) DC. ssp. pulla (Brown Nonea) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Pentaglottis sempervirens (L.) Tausch ex L.H. Bailey (Green Alkanet) / General
Asperugo procumbens L. (Madwort) 1928 General
Borago officinalis L. (Borage) / General
Borago pygmaea (DC.) Chater & Greuter (Slender Borage) - Rupert Higgins General
Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don (Abraham-Isaac-Jacob) / Woodland
Amsinckia lycopsoides Lehm. (Scarce Fiddleneck) 1912 General
Amsinckia calycina (Moris) Chater (Hairy Fiddleneck) 1921 General
Amsinckia menziesii (Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. var. intermedia (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) ined. - [Sandwith, 1932 (as A. intermedia)] - check with A. micrantha General
Plagiobothrys canescens Benth. (which var.? - var. canescens or var. catalinensis (A. Gray) Jeps.? - Kew) (Valley Popcorn-flower) 1917 General
Plagiobothrys stipitatus (Greene) I.M. Johnst. var. stipitatus (Stipitate Forget-me-not) General
Plagiobothrys procumbens (Colla) A. Gray (Procumbent Popcorn-flower, Procumbent Forget-me-not?, Creeping Forget-me-not?) General
Myosotis scorpioides L. (Water Forget-me-not) / Wetland
Myosotis secunda Al. Murray (Creeping Forget-me-not) - Wetland
Myosotis laxa Lehm. ssp. caespitosa (Schultz) Hyl. ex Nordh. (Tufted Forget-me-not) / Wetland
Myosotis alpestris F.W. Schmidt (ssp. alpestris - Kew, GBIF) (Alpine Forget-me-not) General
Myosotis sylvatica Ehrh. ex Hoffm. (Wood Forget-me-not) / General
Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill (var. arvensis - Stace, NBN) (Field Forget-me-not) / General
Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill var. sylvestris Schltdl. (Field Forget-me-not) General
Myosotis ramosissima Rochel (ssp. ramosissima - Stace, NBN) (Early Forget-me-not) /- Grassland
Myosotis discolor Pers. (ssp. discolor - Stace, Kew) (Changing Forget-me-not) - Grassland
Myosotis discolor Pers. ssp. dubia (Arrond.) Blaise (Changing Forget-me-not) Grassland
Lappula squarrosa (Retz.) Dumort. (Bur Forget-me-not) General
Heliotropium europaeum L. (European Turn-sole) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Omphalodes verna Moench (Blue-eyed-Mary) General
Cynoglossum officinale L. (Hound's-tongue) - Grassland

Species to add:

Glandora diffusa (Lag.) D.C. Thomas (Scrambling-gromwell - GBIF, Purple Gromwell) - [on DB as Lithodora diffusa] /
Echium plantagineum L. (Purple Viper's-bugloss) - [Sandwith, 1932] /
Echium tuberculatum Hoffmanns. & Link (Tuberculate Viper's-bugloss?, Portugese Viperina - RHS) - [Sandwith, 1932] /
Echium pininana (Giant Viper's-bugloss) /
Cerinthe major L. (ssp. major - Kew, GBIF) (Greater Honeywort) /
Cerinthe minor L. ssp. minor (Lesser Honeywort) - [White, 1912] /
Pulmonaria saccharata Mill. (Bethlehem-sage) /
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. officinale var. officinale (Common Comfrey) - [on DB as var. purpureum] /
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. officinale var. ochroleucum DC. (Common Comfrey) /
Symphytum x uplandicum x S. tuberosum (Russian x Tuberous Comfrey) - [on DB as Symphytum officinale x asperum x tuberosum] /
Symphytum caucasicum M. Bieb. (Caucasian Comfrey) /
Symphytum bulbosum K.F. Schimper (Bulbous Comfrey) /
Anchusa ochroleuca M. Bieb (Yellow Alkanet) - [White, 1912] /
Nonea lutea (Desr.) DC. (Yellow Monkswort - Stace, GBIF, Yellow Nonea - NBN,) - Frampton Cotterrel, 2023, David Hanks. /
Nonea pulla (L.) DC. ssp. pulla (Brown Nonea) - [Sandwith, 1932] /
Borago pygmaea (DC.) Chater & Greuter (Slender Borage) - Rupert Higgins /
Amsinckia menziesii (Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. var. intermedia (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) ined. - [Sandwith, 1932 (as A. intermedia)] - check with A. micrantha /
Plagiobothrys stipitatus (Greene) I.M. Johnst. var. stipitatus (Stipitate Forget-me-not) /
Plagiobothrys procumbens (Colla) A. Gray (Procumbent Popcorn-flower, Procumbent Forget-me-not?, Creeping Forget-me-not?) /
Myosotis alpestris F.W. Schmidt (ssp. alpestris - Kew, GBIF) (Alpine Forget-me-not) /
Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill var. sylvestris Schltdl. (Field Forget-me-not) /
Myosotis discolor Pers. ssp. dubia (Arrond.) Blaise (Changing Forget-me-not) /
Heliotropium europaeum L. (European Turn-sole) - [Sandwith, 1932] /

Species added by me:

Symphytum officinale L. ssp. bohemicum (F.W. Schmidt) Čelak. (Bohemian Comfrey) /
Symphytum officinale L. ssp. bohemicum (F.W. Schmidt) Čelak. x S. x uplandicum (Bohemian x Russian Comfrey) /