Echium wildpretii

Venison (Echium wildpretii )

Venison (Echium wildpretii ) is a flowering plant in the genus snake heads ( Echium ) within the family of Boraginaceae ( Boraginaceae ). The Style epithet honors the Swiss gardener and botanist Hermann venison.

Description

Venison bugloss is a perennial ( hapaxanthe ) plant, which reaches stature heights of up to 3 meters. Characteristic of this Natternkopfart is the basic rosette, which can reach up to one meter in diameter and consists of linear- lanceolate leaves. The basal rosette sits a short, unbranched trunk on the ground firmly, the leaves are about 30 × 2 cm in size, are occupied on both sides densely with relatively soft bristles and thus white tomentose - rough. From the center of the rosette is a single narrow - cone-shaped inflorescence, which is very densely occupied with innumerable flowers rises. Depending on the subspecies is the color of the flowers red or pink, fading to blue last. The wide funnel-shaped flowers are 10-14 mm long. Fruits are small nutlets that feel rough.

The flowering period extends from June to August.

System

For venison Natternkopf two subspecies have been described:

• Echium wildpretii H.Pearson ex Hook.f. subsp. wildpretii: nominate form with red flowers on Tenerife.
• Echium wildpretii subsp. trichosiphon ( Svent. ) Bramwell: with pink flowers on La Palma.

Occurrence

This endemic to La Palma and Tenerife species occurs only in the subalpine zone of the two islands. In Tenerife in Las Cañadas del Teide and La Palma in crevices of the Caldera de Taburiente.

Due to the attractive inflorescences this type is often grown in gardens.