Russian WildNature. Boraginaceae

This Family contains more than hundreds genera and about two and half of thousand species all the world. It is possible to find both grass, and trees, and bushes among Boraginaceae. Though, members of this Family in temperate zone are grasses and frequently are ruderal.

The majority of Boraginaceae has curl inflorescence, which is straightened in process of disclosing flowers. Besides that in many cases colouring of a flower varies during flowering: the pink flowers become light-blue, and white ones become pink. It happens because of change of an acidity in flowers (as litmus), and it is not clear for what. It was mentioned, that the colouring varies faster after visiting flowers by the pollinators. By the way, Boraginaceae pollinate by insects and avoid the self-pollinations.

Rigid pubescent is one more characteristics of this Family.

Though among there are lot of medicinal plants in Family Boraginaceae, they are not wide in culture. Perhaps, Borage (Borago officinalis) is only exception.

From the earliest times Forget-me-not (Myosotis) is used in floriculture. And blades were tempered in juice of these plants. According to legend it possible to cut both steel, and stone with such blade.