Echium wildpretii

Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Magnoliopsida
Ordo: Lamiales
Familia: Boraginaceae
Subfamilia: Boraginoideae
Genus: Echium
Species: Echium wildpretii

Name

Echium wildpretii H.Pearson ex Hook.f.

References

* Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed ... London 128: t. 7847. 1902
* USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Data from 07-Oct-06]. [1]

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Echium wildpretii is a herbaceous biennial plant that grows up to 3 m in height. The species is endemic to the island of Tenerife, and is found mainly in Las Cañadas del Teide. The common names are tower of jewels, red bugloss, Tenerife bugloss or Mount Teide bugloss.[1] The Spanish word for this plant is tajinaste.

Habitat

The plant grows in the subalpine zone of the ravines of Mount Teide. It requires a lot of sun and is found in arid and dry conditions but it tolerates frost down to -15 °C

Description

It is a biennial producing a dense rosette of leaves during the first year and in the second year produces an erect inflorescence between 1 and 3 m tall.

Flowering

The plant blooms from late spring to early summer in Tenerife.

Uses
This plant can be found as a garden ornamental but is intolerant of low temperatures. As for most buglosses It is favoured by bee-keepers for its high nectar and pollen content.

References

1. ^ Bramwell, D and Bramwell, Z (2001) Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. 2nd edition. Editorial Rueda SL, Madrid, Spain ISBN 84 7207 129 4.