29-12-2021 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - CRETAN VIPERS BUGLOSS (Echium creticum)

Echium creticum (Cretan viper's bugloss) is a hairy, annual or biennial herb in the Boraginaceae family. Native to the western Mediterranean Basin, it thrives in rocky, sandy, and dry environments and is distinguished by its vibrant blue-to-purple flowers and stamens that protrude conspicuously from the petals.

The scientific name has a rich taxonomical history; its synonyms include Echium calycinum Viv., Echium rubrum Moench, Echium sericeum Vahl, and Echium violaceum L.. The genus name Echium is rooted in the Greek word for viper and was historically used by ancient physicians to treat snakebites. Beyond its wild habitats, it is also occasionally cultivated as an ornamental plant.

29-4-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - VIPERS BUGLOSS (Echium vulgare)

Echium vulgare, known as viper's bugloss and blueweed, is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. It is native to most of Europe and western and central Asia and it occurs as an introduced species in north-eastern North America, south-western South America and the South and North Island of New Zealand. If eaten, the plant is toxic to horses and cattle through the accumulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the liver.

The plant root was used in ancient times as a treatment for snake or viper bites. According to the Doctrine of signatures, plants were thought to have traits (in this case a speckled stem reminiscent of snake skin, and flowers like an open viper's mouth) that mirror the ailment they treat.

It is a biennial or monocarpic perennial plant growing to 30–80 cm (12–31 in) tall, with rough, hairy, oblanceolate leaves. The stems, which are red-flecked, resemble snake's skin and even the fruits are shaped like adders' heads. The flowers start pink and turn vivid blue, and are 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) in a branched spike, with all the stamens protruding. The pollen is blue[13] but the filaments of the stamens remain red, contrasting against the blue flowers. It flowers between May and September in the Northern Hemisphere. The Latin specific epithet vulgare means common.