Echium vulgare L.

Densely scabrid or hispid annual or biennial herb to c. 90 cm high but often much less. Basal lvs to c. 15 × 5 cm, linear-lanceolate, lanceolate, or lanceolate-elliptic; base attenuate and petiolate; apex acute; upper cauline lvs smaller, sessile, commonly linear or nearly so, rounded at base. Infl. simple or with several branches; branches becoming spike-like or paniculate. Calyx 5–8 mm long; lobes linear, < corolla tube. Corolla 12–18 mm long, pink in bud, becoming blue, rarely remaining completely pale pink and even more rarely white; upper lobes > lower. Stamens purplish pink, very rarely whitish, 4 long-exserted on filiform filaments, fifth included or slightly exserted. Nutlets c. 2 mm long, sharply angular.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Oct.)–Nov.–Jan.–(May)