Borage is now in flower -

Borage - a self seeding annual of the Mediterranean. This bristly hairy plant has 2 distinct forms of leaves The leaf anatomy differs between the adult basal leaves and the young stem leaves. The basal leaves are about 120 - 150mm long, stalked (with two small basal lobes embracing stem) ovoid in shape and have a wavy (undulate) outline. These leaves also give the alternate popular French name of Langue de Boeuf or Cows tongue - which anyone kissed by a cow will recognise.

The younger leaves are smaller, not more than 100mm long, lanceolate shape, sessile and dentate outline. Both leaves have several prickly bristles, but not as much as in the stem. Despite the bristles, the leaves are still eaten by certain herbivores like small snails and caterpillars.

The branching stems terminateina raceme several elegant bluish-indigo star-shaped flowers. The upside-down (or nearly so) hanging flower is made up of 5 sepals and 5 petals and is about 22-25mm (1 inch) across in size. The sepals are relatively thin, spread-out and densely covered with bristles having a reddish basal bulge. The overall colour of the sepals is usually reddish-brown, but sometimes they are green. The petals are fused together at the basal part forming a single flat, star-shaped flower. The central part is white. IN contrast , there are 5 prominent black (with a purple tinge) stamens that projects out at the white center region.

The stamens, although being seperate, are closely grouped together forming a long (8mm approx) conical, black singular structure. At the center of this, there is the green inconspicuous pistil. The pollen is pale yellow and not much visible from the exterior, since the opening is facing inside at the core of the stamen unit.

Pliny claimed that borage steeped in a wine, was the famous Nepenthe of Homer, which brought absolute forgiveness when drunk. The herb is still often called "cool-tankard" in England, where an old verse relates: " To enliven the sad with a joy of a joke, give the wine with some borage put in to soak"

Francis Bacon (between writing Shakespeare's plays) said Bacon says that it 'hath an excellent spirit to repress the fuliginous vapour of dusky melancholie.' Culpepper found the plant useful in putrid and pestilential fever, the venom of serpents, jaundice, consumption, sore throat, and rheumatism.'

Also referred to as the "herb of courage". In medieval times, borage tea was given to competitors in tournaments as a moral booster.

Leaves are used to be eaten raw or cooked . They can be used as a pot-herb or be added to salads . They are also added whole as a flavouring to various drinks such as Pimms and wine-based drinks . The leaves are rich in potassium and calcium, they have a salty cucumber flavour . Very hairy, the whole leaves have an unpleasant feeling in the mouth and so they are best chopped up finely and added to other leaves when eaten in a salad . .

Flowers can be eaten raw. They are used as a decorative garnish on salads and summer fruit drinks . The flowers are very nice, both to look at and to taste with a sweet slightly cucumber-like flavour


Clinical trials have shown that yhe pressed seed oil of Borage, rich in gamma-Linolenic and Linolenic acid, is used in the same way as Evening Primrose oil in the treatment of menstrual problems, eczema and other chronic skin conditions, and It is often combined with Evening Primrose oil to help reduce blood cholesterol levels.

Borage seed oil reduces cardiovascular reactivity to stress by reducing the systolic blood pressure and heart rate and by increased task performance. A hormonal effect is indicated by a traditional belief that the leaves and seeds of the plant can increase the milk supply of nursing mothers; it is also said to improve mood in menopausal depression.

Gamma Linoleic Acid

Current interest in Borage as a crop plant (it is grown commercially in Alberta, Chile and China) is for its seed which contains a high percentage of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) (all- cis 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid) in the oil. GLA is a precursor of the prostaglandin PGE1 in the human body which is vital in many body functions, such as antithrombotic inhibitory effects on aggregation of platelets, lowering blood pressure, and inhibiting cholesterol formation.