Wild Flowers

The summer wild flowers are making a show in some places along the Taylor River tracks. Vipers Bugloss with its vivid blue flowers intrigues me. One minute it is nowhere to be seen with perhaps the basal leaves lying discretely on the ground and the next minute it has sprouted its tall stem covered in deep blue vibrant flowers. Vipers Bugloss (Echium Vulgare) inhabits many riverbeds, country roadsides and large tracts of back country in the South Island. It makes a wonderful display on the likes of Molesworth Station at this time of year. The public often erroneously refer to the plant as “Blue Borage” and honey made from these plants is marketed as “Blue Borage Honey”. Well, I suppose that sounds a lot more romantic than Vipers Bugloss honey!
The derivation of the botanical name: “Echium” from the Greek name for viper, the seeds being supposed to resemble a viper’s head: “Vulgare” being Latin for common.
Whatever its name I always look forward to the wonderful display it makes each summer.