Anchusa capensis

Anchusa capensis, is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to Namibia, South Africa and Lesotho.[1][2] The genus Anchusa is from the Greek word anchousa, which makes reference to its use as a dye base for cosmetic paint obtained from the roots of another plant in the genus Anchusa tinctoria. The species capensis translates to ‘from the Cape’ referring to South Africa[3]

Anchusa capensis
Close-up of flowers with bee for scale
At the University of California Botanical Garden
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Anchusa
Species:
A. capensis
Binomial name
Anchusa capensis

A. capensis typically reaches about 60 cm (24 in) tall, and grows best in full sun.[4] In summer, red buds open to reveal small, bright cobalt blue flowers with five petals and five white scales protecting the stigma and anthers.[5]

In the US, it grows well in zones 8–11.[6] Cultivars include 'Dawn', with white, pink, mauve and blue flowers, 'Blue Angel', with dark blue flowers, and 'Blue Bird', taller and with indigo blue flowers.[7]

Common Names
  • Bugloss[8]
  • Cape Forget-Me Not
  • Summer Forget-Me Not
  • Vergeet-My-Nietjie
  • Ystergras
  • Koringblom
  • Ossetongblaar (Afr.)
  • Petlekheme (Sesotho)
  • Alkanet

References
  1. "Anchusa capensis Thunb". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. "Anchusa capensis Cape forget-me-not". The Royal Horticultural Society. 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. "Anchusa capensis (Bugloss, Cape Forget-Me Not, Summer Forget-Me Not) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  4. "Anchusa capensis". Useful Tropical Plants. Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  5. "Anchusa capensis (Bugloss, Cape Forget-Me Not, Summer Forget-Me Not) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  6. "Cape Forget-Me-Not (Anchusa capensis) - Plants | Candide Gardening". Candide. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  7. Hessayon, D. G. (1999). The New Flower Expert. Expert Books. p. 20. ISBN 9780903505529.
  8. "Cape-Forget-Me-Not (Anchusa capensis) - Plants". Candide. Retrieved 2022-05-25.


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