salvation jane (Echium plantagineum L.)

Appearance

Echium plantagineum is an annual or biennial plant that can grow up to 39.3 in. (100 cm) tall.

Foliage

Rosette leaves are 2-7.9 in. (5-20 cm) long, ovate, petiolate, and prominent venation. Cauline leaves are oblong to lanceolate and can be cordate at the base.

Flowers

The calyx consists of 5 sepals and is 0.28-0.59 in. (7-15 mm) across. Corolla consists of 5 fused petals that are 0.71-1.2 in. (18-30 mm) across, funnel-shaped, and purple to blue or even pink to white in color. Flowering occurs from spring to summer.

Fruit

Fruits are 0.1 in. (2.5 mm) long, tan-grey to black, usually grouped in fours. Seeds are 0.08-0.12 in. (2-3 mm) long, brownish in color, wrinkled, and 3 sided.

Ecological Threat

Echium plantagineum can be found in pastures, vacant lands, and roadsides. It is native to the Mediterranean and west Europe.

Citations

Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf

Selected Images

Maps

EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.

Invasive Listing Sources

Taxonomic Rank

Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Superorder: Asteranae

Order: Boraginales

Family: Boraginaceae

Genus: Echium

Echium plantagineum L.

References

Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.

Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.