BORAI30, a genus of plants, the type of the natural order Bora ginocerr, and placed in the tribe Anchuseer. This tribe is distinguished by possessing four nuts affixed to an hypogynous disk, with an exca vated space surrounded by a tumid ring at their base. The genus Borago has a calyx with five deep segments; a rotate corolla with the tube very short, the throat with short erect emarginate scalar; exsertod stamens, the filaments bifid, the inner fork bearing the anther; the anthers linear, lanceolate, connivent in the form of a cone. All the species are rough plants, with fusiform roots, oblong or lanceolate leaves, and blue panicled drooping flowers.
B. officinalis, Common Borage, has the lower leaves obovate, obtuse, attenuated below ; the segments of the corolla ovate, acute, flat, spreading. The flowers are blue, and the whole plant is hispid, with tubercled hairs. This plant appears to be originally a native of Aleppo, but is now naturalised in most countries of Europe. In Great Britain
it is not uncommon on rubbish and in waste places. Borage had formerly a great reputation as a cordial. Its virtues in this respect must have been overrated, no in common with the whole family to which it belongs it possesses no very active properties. The tissues contain gum, and on this account it may be used as a demulcent. It also possesses nitrate of potash, as well as other plants of the order, which renders it slightly febrifuge. Withering says the young tender leaves may be used as salads or as a pot-herb. Three other species are described : B. crassifolia, n native of Persia; B. iongifolia, from Nuntidia ; and B. la.r(lora, a native of Corsica. They are all plants of the easiest culture. They may be always propagated by seed, which should be sown in the open ground. They form pretty border flowers.
(Babington, Manual of British Botany ; G. Don, Gardener's Dic tionary.)