Anchusa arvensis

This is a coarsely hairy annual herb which may reach half a meter in height. It bears small blue tubular flowers, four nutlets per flower, and one seed per nutlet. Leaves are very bristly and warty-looking, which differentiates it from similar species like Pentaglottis sempervirens and Myosotis arvensis. File:578 Lycopsis arvensis.jpg|'''A. arvensis technical drawing.''' File:Neuchâtel Herbarium - Anchusa arvensis - NEU000020457.jpg|'''A. arvensis in Neuchâtel's herbarium.''' File:Anchusa arvensis subsp. orientalis sl27.jpg|'''A. arvensis peduncle with nutlets.''' File:Anchusa arvensis subsp. arvensis sl20.jpg|'''A. arvensis nutlets and seed.''' ==Distribution and habitat==

The plant is native to continental Europe, and was introduced in North America, the UK, South America, Tasmania and Russia. Anchusa arvensis is found in arable field margins, sandy heaths, disturbed ground. Anchusa arvensis flowers April to September in the UK and from February to July in Portugal. ==Subspecies==

It has two subspecies, both present in Portugal: • Anchusa arvensis subsp. arvensis • Anchusa arvensis subsp. orientalis ==Common Names==

In Portugal it has several commons names such as buglossa, buglossa-do-norte, erva-do-fígado, erva-sangue, borrage, borragem, chupa-mel, língua-de-vaca or orcaneta. == Conservation ==

Of the two subspecies, none is currently protected by Portuguese legislation or by the European Union. It is considered to be Near Threatened in Switzerland, and likely Least Concern overall. File:Bugloss (Anchusa arvensis) - geograph.org.uk - 497607.jpg|'''A. arvensis in the UK.''' File:Kromhals bloem (Anchusa arvensis).jpg|'''A. arvensis flowers.''' File:Anchusa arvensis 103596192.jpg|'''A. arvensis leaves.''' == Synonyms ==

This species has 11 synonyms, 3 homotypic and 8 heterotypic: Homotypic Synonyms • Buglossa arvensis (L.) Gray in Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 351 (1821 publ. 1822) • Buglossites arvensis (L.) Bubani in Fl. Pyren. 1: 494 (1897) • Lycopsis arvensis (L.) in Sp. Pl.: 139 (1753) Heterotypic Synonyms • Anchusa arvensis subsp. occidentalis (Kusn.) Nordh. in Norsk Fl. (Oslo): 526 (1940) • Anchusa arvensis var stricta Boenn. in Prodr. Fl. Monast. Westphal.: 54 (1824) • Anchusa lateriflora Dumort. in Fl. Belg.: 41 (1827) • Echioides arvensis Poir. ex Steud. in Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 538 (1840), not validly publ. • Lycopsis arvensis subsp. occidentalis Kusn. in Trudy Bot. Muz. Imp. Akad. Nauk 8: 96 (1911) • Lycopsis orientalis Stephan in Enum. Stirp. Agr. Mosq.: 122 (1792) • Lycopsis undulata Gilib. in Fl. Lit. Inch. 1: 26 (1782), opus utique oppr. • Nonea arvensis DC. ex Steud. in Nomencl. Bot. 1: 556 (1821), not validly publ. == References ==