ANCHU'SA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Boraginoceer, and to the sub-tribe A achusem. The calyx is 5-fid ; the corolla funnel-shaped, with a straight tube, the throat being closed by prominent obtuse scales; the stamens are included, and subsessile ; the fruit a nut, which is depressed. The species are chiefly inhabitants of the temperate parts of the earth, either on the mountains of tropical regions or the temperate zone. They are all of them rough plants, and are known, as well as the species of Lycoptis and Echium, by the com mon name of Bugloss. Some of the species have been used in medicine, while others are employed in the arts for dyeing. Two are inhabitants of Great Britain.
A. officinalis, Conuuon Alkanat or Bugloss, has lanceolate hispid leaves, unilateral crowded spikes, ovate-lanceolate bracts, the segments of the calyx bluntish, hairy on both sides, the scales of the corolla hairy. The flowers are a deep purple. It is an inhabitant of Great Britain, on waste ground, but is a rare plant. In the south of France, Germany, and Switzerland it is everywhere common, in nnettitivated places, on old walle, and by the road-side. The young plant is some times boiled and eaten. The roots contain n considerable quantity of gum, and when boiled yield a demulceut drink, which was once in repute as a medicine.
• A. semperrirena, Evergreen Bugloss, has ovate leaves, with lower leaves on long stalks, the peduncles axillnry, each bearing two dense spikes with an intermediate flower, the segments of the calyx hairy on the outside only, the bracts minute lanceolate, scales of the corolla downy, flowers blue, salver-shaped. This plant is found on waste ground, near ruins, in Great Britain, but is rare.
A. tinctoria, Dyers' Bugloss or Alkanet, has diffuse stems, oblong hispid leaves, bracts longer than the calyx, the segments of the corolla shorter than the stamens. The corolla has a deep blood-coloured tube, with the limb deep blue. The root is woody, descending, and of a dark blood-red colour. This plant is a native of Peloponnesus, tho island of Cyprus, and the deserts about Alexandria. It is enItivated in the south of France for the sake of the root, which yields a fine red colour to oils, wax, all unctuous substances, and to spirits of wine. Its chief use is in colouring lip-salves, ointments, &c. It is however some times employed for staining wood and dyeing cotton. It is also used for colouring many of the beverages sold under the name of port wine, and the corks used for the bottles in which this fluid is sold.
A. avast ;folio, Narrow-Lcaved Bugloss, has linear lanceolate hispid leaves, ovate-Lanceolate bracts, 5-fid calyx, with blunt teeth. The tube of the corolla is pale purple, the limb deep blue. In gardens it attains a height of two feet, but when wild it is not more than a foot high. It grows iu Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, by roadsides, amongst rubbish, and on the borders of ploughed field& In the cultivation of the species of this genus but little care is required, as they will grow in almost any soil, and are easily increased by seed. The A. Copyists, Cape Bugloss, requires the treatment of a greenhouse plant. Many of them are pretty annuals for tho garden, as A. paoieutata, A. BarrdRre, Sc.