Buglossoides arvensis
(L.) I.M.Johnst.
Boraginaceae
Aegonychon arvense (L.) Gray
Lithospermum arvense L.
Margarospermum arvense (L.) Decne.
Rhytispermum arvense (L.) Link
Rhytispermum medium Fourr.
Common Name: Field Gromwell
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 |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Pollinators | Bees, Flies |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
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.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
