Jump to content

Borage

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Borage
Borage flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
(unplaced)
Family:
Genus:
Species:
B. officinalis
Binomial name
Borago officinalis

Borage, also known as starflower, is an annual herb.[1] The flowers are perfect with five narrow, triangular-pointed petals. Flowers are most often blue in color, although pink flowers are sometimes examined. White flowered types are also grown.

As a fresh vegetable, borage, with a cucumber like taste, is often used in salads or as a garnish.[2] The flower, which has the non-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid thesinine, has a sweet honey-like taste and as one of the few truly blue-colored eatable things, is often used to decorate dessert.[3]

References

[change | change source]
  1. Donald G. Barceloux (2008). Medical Toxicology of Natural Substances: Foods, Fungi, Medicinal Herbs, Plants, and Venomous Animals (Hardcover ed.). Wiley. p. 397. ISBN 978-0471727613.
  2. "Borage". Encyclopedia of spices. The Epicentre. 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  3. Borage Wildflower Finder