Blue Weed.Echium vulgare.Viper’s Bugloss.Blue Thistle (Vt.).
Found in July, in pastures chiefly, though occasionally straying along country roads.
The stalk, from 3 to 4 or 5 feet in height, is large, and strong; it is branching with short stems which diminish as they near the top; the fibre is coarse, it is roughened with hairs, and its light green color is frequently dotted with rusty-purple freckles.
The lower leaves are very long and narrow, occasionally cut or rudely notched on the edge, while the pointed upper leaves are entire; the texture is coarse, and rough to the touch; the color is green. The arrangement is alternate.
The flower is an irregular vase-shape, spreading into 5 rounding divisions of unequal length, with a very small, green, 5-parted calyx; the corolla is a bright deep blue, the 4 stamens and the pistil are rose-colored. Several flowers are set in a single row along the upper side of a short stem, which is coiled tightly at first, but straightens itself as the rose-colored buds expand. Many of these stems form a large and conspicuous terminal spike; and singly grow from the upper branches.
It is a pity this striking plant should have invaded the farmers’ pastures in such bold colonies as to be reckoned by him a pest, and so uprooted, for absolute blue flowers are rare. It deserves especial regard because of its unusual color combination of ultramarine and rose. The “spotted stem made men once think it efficacious for cure of viper’s bites, and its seeds, shaped like a viper’s head, confirmed the notion.”