Species name :

Echium arenariumGuss.
Published in Ind. Sem. Horto Boccad. 5 (1826)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Echium diffusum Guss.

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [PlantList] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Boraginaceae Juss. (The Borage Family)
16 species from the Boraginaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Coastal Viper's Bugloss

Maltese name(s) :

Lsien il-fart tar-ramel, Lsien il-fart tax-xtut

Status for Malta :

Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: HEMICRYPTOPHYTE ( prostate plants with flowers close to the ground )
Germination [info]: Dicotyledon

Legal Protection :

Not legally protected till the last update of this website (2/Mar/2022)

Red List (1989) :

Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands

Flowering Time :

February – June

Colour of Flowers:

Blue or Violet

Toxicity:

Not particularly toxic

Name Derivation :

Echium: From the Greek 'Echis' meaning a viper and most probably referring to the flower shape which appear to represent a vipers head. Another source states that the name alludes to the fact that roots of these plants drunk with wine was regarded both as good to act against snakebites and also as a continuing protection for future snake bites. (Greek origin )

arenarium:

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines