Echium Tourn. ex L.

Boraginaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1991

Morphology General Habit

Annual, biennial or perennial hispid herbs or shrubs with an indumentum of tubercle-based setae and often an underlayer of short stiff adpressed or spreading hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence thyrsoid, with lateral helicoid cymes often much enlarging in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx deeply 5-lobed, usually accrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla blue, purple, yellow or white; tube broadly to narrowly funnel-shaped, straight, ± hairy outside, inside usually with a ring of 5–10 distinct scales or lobes or an undulate entire somewhat fleshy collar-like membrane at the base; throat ± oblique, open; limb usually oblique with unequal lobes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5, often unequal, included or exserted

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style exserted; stigma bifid or sometimes capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets 4, ± triangular at the base, usually rugose.