Boraginaceae

Abstract

Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, in the order of Boraginales, is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, consisting of about 146 genera with approximately 2000 species, distributed in temperate or tropical regions. Plants are usually herbs, subshrubs, and rarely shrubs or trees. They are often whole plant scabrous or bristly and rarely smooth. Leaves are simple, entire, rarely serrate, and exstipulate. Flowers are bisexual and actinomorphic. Cymes are single or double scorpioid corymbose or coniform. Bracts are present or absent. Calyx and corolla are usually 5-lobed. The calyx is persistent. Corolla is blue or white, radial, funnelform or campanulate, lobes imbricate in bud, rarely contorted, and usually with five appendages in throat. Stamens are five, inserted on corolla tube or at throat. Disk is usually present. Ovary is superior and 2-loculed. There are two ovules per locule. Styles are one, and rarely two, apically or basally. Stigma is capitate and bifid. Fruit is drupe or nutlike. Four species, belonging to different genera, are illustrated in the chapter.