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Useful Temperate Plants

Buglossoides arvensis

(L.) I.M.Johnst.

Boraginaceae

+ Synonyms

Aegonychon arvense (L.) Gray

Lithospermum arvense L.

Margarospermum arvense (L.) Decne.

Rhytispermum arvense (L.) Link

Rhytispermum medium Fourr.

Common Name: Field Gromwell

No Image.

General Information

Buglossoides arvensis is an erect, annual plant usually growing 10 - 50cm tall, occasionally to 90cm. The stem is usually unbranched, sometimes few-branched[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].
The plant is being developed as a potential commercial crop to supply essential fatty acids for the human diet[
1114
Title
Corn Gromwell; A new oil crop for UK farmers, containing stearidonic acid (SDA), an omega-3 fatty acid from plants w
Publication
 
Author
Dr Lydia Smith
Website
http://www.niab.com/pages/id/319/Corn_Gromwell
Publisher
NIAB
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
An internet article, dowmloaded 06/10/2016
].
Buglossoides arvensis was a well known weed of spring cereals until the extensive use of winter varieties and herbicides made it much rarer.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Almost throughout Europe; W. Asia - the Caucasus, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon; N. Africa - Macaronesis, Morocco, Algeria

Habitat

A weed of arable fields, rough ground and open grassy places[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
]. Stony slopes, pastures, waste lands, sands, steppes, rarely in forest zone, oases, mountain slopes[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.50 m
PollinatorsBees, Flies
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

An oil obtained from the seed is a rich source of stearidonic acid (SDA), which is a key precursor in the biosynthesis of long chain, omega-3, polyunsaturated fatty acids. These essential fatty acids, which are commonly found in fish oils, play an essentail role in human metabolism[
1114
Title
Corn Gromwell; A new oil crop for UK farmers, containing stearidonic acid (SDA), an omega-3 fatty acid from plants w
Publication
 
Author
Dr Lydia Smith
Website
http://www.niab.com/pages/id/319/Corn_Gromwell
Publisher
NIAB
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
An internet article, dowmloaded 06/10/2016
].

Medicinal

An infusion of the leaves is used as a diuretic[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination should take place within a few weeks.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-07. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Buglossoides+arvensis>

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