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B O R A G O officinalis.
7 s Common Borage.
P E -2V ¥ \A N D R I A Motiogynia,
G en. C har. Corolla wheel-ffiaped : the orifice clofed
with rays.
S pec. C har. Leaves all alternate, Calyx fpreading,
Sy n . Borago officinalis. Linn. Sp. PI. 197. HadJ.Fl.
An. 82, With. Bot. Arr. 197. Relh. Cant. 78.
Borrago hortenfis. Rail Syn. 228.
T P HE Borage, whofe bright blue flowers decorate almoft every
dunghill and heap of rubbilh, is one of thofe vegetables which,
although not originally of Britifh growth, are now fo perfe&ly
naturalized as to find a place in every catalogue of our wild
plants. It is faid to have been brought from the Levant; and
was at firft cultivated in gardens as a medicinal herb, being
reckoned, apparently without reafon, one of the four cordial
flowers. Hence the old adage,
“ Ego Borago gaudia Temper ago”—
which Gerarde renders,
“ I Borage bring always courage— ”
a tranflation worthy of the elegance of the original. The
fame author adds from Dodonseus—
“ Thofe of our time do ule the floures in fallads, to exhi-
“ larate and make the minde glad. There be alfo many things
<( made of them, ufed for the comfort of the heart, to drive
“ away forrow, and increafe the joy of the minde.”
Very light furely were thofe forrows that could be fo driven
away! Yet the Borage flowers were at leaft innocent, which
is more than can be faid of many more general remedies for-
care.
The whole herb is fucculent and very mucilaginous, and has
a peculiar faint fmell when bruifed- All the green parts are
extremely hifpid, with (harp rigid white bridles. The root ist
fcarcely more than biennial with us. The flowers appear in
great plenty in the fummer months.