Citation: Moench, Meth. 418 (1794).

Derivation: Similar to Buglossa Gray which is a synonym of Lycopsis L.

Synonymy: Lithospermum L., Sp. Pl. 132 (1753), partly. 15 species from temperate regions of Eurasia with the weed, B. arvensis, now widely distributed in the world. It is distinguished from Lithospermum and Neatostema, another segregate genus, by its vertical hairy ridges in the corolla tube and different pollen shape; 1 species naturalised in Australia.

Common name: None

Description:
Annuals with more or less appressed hairs of about equal length, little-branched mainly from the base; leaves first opposite and petiolate becoming alternate and sessile on stems.

Inflorescence terminal with 1-3 terminal erect scorpioid cymes with flowers loosely arranged, shortly pedicellate and partly hidden by leaf-like bracts; sepals scarcely fused basally, considerably elongating after flowering; corolla regular, cylindrical, with 5 hairy ridges between the throat of the tube and the anthers, with a ring of scales well below the anthers; stamens inserted just below the middle of the corolla tube, with anthers almost sessile; ovary 4-lobed, each with a basal ovule, with a short style inserted near the base of the ovary and with the bilobed included stigma surmounted by a sterile lobe.

Fruit with 2 lobes breaking off as hard mericarps and with a small central gynobase remaining; mericarps ovoid tapering into a terminal beak with a little developed vertical ridge, densely tuberculate, rarely rugose, with a large attachment scar at the base.

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available