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Small Bugloss
Anchusa arvensis (Linnaeus) M. Bieberstein
Small Bugloss: https://marylandbiodiversity.org/species/2266
Synonyms
Lycopsis arvensis 
Tags
Non-native

Source: Wikipedia

Anchusa arvensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Anchusa
Species:
A. arvensis
Binomial name
Anchusa arvensis
Synonyms
  • Anchusa arvensis subsp. occidentalis (Kusn.) Nordh.
  • Anchusa arvensis var stricta Boenn.
  • Anchusa lateriflora Dumort.
  • Buglossa arvensis (L.) Gray
  • Buglossites arvensis (L.) Bubani
  • Echioides arvensis Poir. ex Steud.
  • Lycopsis arvensis (L.)
  • Lycopsis arvensis subsp. occidentalis Kusn.
  • Lycopsis orientalis Stephan
  • Lycopsis undulata Gilib.
  • Nonea arvensis DC. ex Steud.

Anchusa arvensis is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. Its common names include bugloss, small bugloss, annual bugloss, and field bugloss.[2] It was first described by Carl Linnaeus, and given its exact name by Friedrich Bieberstein in Flora Taurico-Caucasica.[3]

Description

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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.

  • A. arvensis technical drawing.
    A. arvensis technical drawing.
  • A. arvensis in Neuchâtel's herbarium.
    A. arvensis in Neuchâtel's herbarium.
  • A. arvensis peduncle with nutlets.
    A. arvensis peduncle with nutlets.
  • A. arvensis nutlets and seed.
    A. arvensis nutlets and seed.

Distribution and habitat

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The plant is native to continental Europe, and was introduced in North America, the UK, South America, Tasmania and Russia.[4][5]

Anchusa arvensis is found in arable field margins, sandy heaths, disturbed ground.[6]

Anchusa arvensis flowers April to September in the UK and from February to July in Portugal.[6][7]

Subspecies

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It has two subspecies, both present in Portugal:[8]

Common Names

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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.[7]

Conservation

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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.[1] In the UK it is a declining species with patchy distribution,[6] however conservation status as of 2005 is least concern.[9]

  • A. arvensis in the UK.
    A. arvensis in the UK.
  • A. arvensis flowers.
    A. arvensis flowers.
  • A. arvensis leaves.
    A. arvensis leaves.

Synonyms

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This species has 11 synonyms, 3 homotypic and 8 heterotypic:

Homotypic Synonyms

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  1. ^ a b "Info Flora". Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Bugloss". Wild Flower Web. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Flora Taurico-Caucasia". Wild Flora Taurico-Caucasia. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Anchusa arvensis (L.) M. Bieb". USDA Plants Database.
  5. ^ "Plants of the World Online". Plants of the World Online.
  6. ^ a b c "Bugloss". NatureSpot.
  7. ^ a b "Anchusa arvensis". Flora Digital de Portugal. Jardim Botânico UTAD. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  8. ^ Sequeira M, Espírito-Santo D, Aguiar C, Capelo J & Honrado J (Coord.) (2010). Checklist da Flora de Portugal (Continental, Açores e Madeira). Associação Lusitana de Fitossociologia (ALFA).
  9. ^ "England's Important Arable Plants" (PDF). Plantlife. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-27.
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