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Botanical Family · Boraginales

Boraginaceae

Borage family

33 speciesOrder Boraginales8+ well-known plants

The borage family of herbs, shrubs, and trees, characterised by rough, stiff or hairy stems and leaves and small flowers often arranged in scorpioid cymes that uncoil as they bloom. Includes forget-me-nots, heliotropes, and the Indian timber tree Cordia.

Browse all 33 species ↓
Representative BORAGINACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Boraginaceae
Key pattern

Rough, hairy, alternate leaves and coiled flower spikes that uncurl as they bloom, with 5 united petals maturing into 4 nutlets.

The bristly hairs can irritate skin, and many species carry mild alkaloids — better suited to external use than internal.

Identify the species

Which Boraginaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Boraginaceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan
HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?
Climbing vine
Herb
Shrub
Tree
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Blue/violet
White
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Lanceolate (long, narrow, tapering to a point)
Ovate
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Lanceolate (long, narrow, tapering to a point)
Sagittate (arrowhead-shaped)
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Lanceolate (long, narrow, tapering to a point)
Sagittate (arrowhead-shaped)
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Lanceolate (long, narrow, tapering to a point)
Ovate
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Orange/red
White
Yellow

How to recognise the Boraginaceae family

  • 01

    Rough hispid hairs on stems and leaves

  • 02

    Flowers in coiled scorpioid cymes

  • 03

    4 nutlets or drupe fruit

Typical leaf characters

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Common Hill BorageAdelocaryum coelestinumScorpionbushCarmona retusaCreeping ColdeniaColdenia procumbensNettletreeCordia albaIndian CherryCordia dichotomaGrey-Leaved SaucerberryCordia gharafYellow GeigerCordia luteaDahmanCordia macleodii

All 33 species in BORAGINACEAE

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