Anchusa Anchusa The genus Anchusa belongs to the tribe Boragineae of the borage family (Boraginaceae). It includes about 40 species. These species grow in Europe, North Africa, South Africa and Western Asia. They are introduced in the United States. They consist of annual plants, biennial plants and perennial plants with the general characteristics of the borage family. They are generally herbs, covered with bristly hairs. The leaves are simple or undulate, covered with stiff hairs. The small radially symmetrical flowers are sapphire blue and retain their colour a long time. The plants show numerous flowers with 5 sepals, united at their
Edible flower unopened buds of most species, can be distasteful, often bitter. The taste and color of nectar widely varies between different species of flower; consequently, honey may vary in color and taste depending of the species of flower. Many flowers can be eaten whole, but some have bitter parts, such as the stamens and stems. Some flowers are safe to eat only in small amounts. Apple flowers ("Malus" spp.) contain cyanide precursors, and Johnny jump-ups ("Viola tricolor") contain saponins. Borage ("Borago officinalis") and daylily ("Hemerocallis" spp.) flowers are diuretics, and sweet woodruff ("Galium odoratum") can have blood-thinning effects. The flowers of