Echium plantagineum
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Echium plantagineum, commonly known as purple viper's-bugloss,<ref name=BSBI07>Template:BSBI 2007</ref> Paterson's curse or Salvation Jane, is a species of the genus Echium native to western and southern Europe (from southern England south to Iberia and east to the Crimea), northern Africa, and southwestern Asia (east to Georgia).<ref name=flora>Echium plantagineum. Flora Europaea.</ref><ref name=grin>Template:GRIN</ref> It has also been introduced to Australia, South Africa, and United States, where it is an invasive weed. Due to a high concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, it is poisonous to grazing livestock, especially those with simple digestive systems, such as horses.
Description
Echium plantagineum is a winter annual plant growing to 20–60 cm tall, with rough, hairy, lanceolate leaves up to 14 cm long. The flowers are purple, 15–20 mm long, with all the stamens protruding, and borne on a branched spike.<ref name=blamey>Blamey, M. & C. Grey-Wilson. Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. 1989. Template:ISBN</ref><ref name=piggin>Piggin, C. M. & A. W. Sheppard. (1995). Echium plantagineum L. In: Groves, R. H., R. C. H. Shepherd, and R. G. Richardson, (eds.) The Biology of Australian Weeds Vol 1. R. G. and F. J. Richardson, Melbourne. pp 87-110.</ref>
Taxonomy
The Latin genus name comes from the Greek word ekhis, which means viper (a type of snake), possibly due to the seeds resembling a viper's head or the forking at the end of the thin flower style resembles a viper's tongue. The plant's roots, when eaten with wine, are claimed to provide a folk cure for a snakebite.<ref name=Parsons/> The Latin specific epithet plantagineum refers to the leaves of the plant, which are similar to those of a plantain.<ref name=Parsons>W. T. Parsons, William Thomas Parsons and E. G. Cuthbertson Template:Google books</ref>
Invasive species
E. plantagineum has become an invasive species in Australia, where it is also known as Salvation Jane (particularly in South Australia),<ref name=Parsons/> blueweed, Lady Campbell weed, Paterson's curse and Riverina bluebell.<ref name=Kahn>Lewis Kahn and David Cottle (editors)
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In the United States, the species has become naturalised in parts of California, Oregon, and some eastern states and areas such as northern Michigan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Oregon, it has been declared a noxious weed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Toxicity
E. plantagineum – commonly called Paterson's curse or pyrrolizidinosis in veterinary medicine – contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which is poisonous to grazing animals, especially nonruminants.<ref name=MERCK>The MERCK Veterinary Manual, Table 5 Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>D. Jesse Wagstaff Template:Google books</ref><ref name=act/> When eaten in large quantities, it causes reduced livestock weight, and death in severe cases, due to liver damage.<ref name=Kahn/> Paterson's curse can kill horses,<ref name="act">Template:Cite web</ref> and irritate the udders of dairy cows and the skin of humans.Template:Cn
After the 2003 Canberra bushfires, a large bloom of the plant occurred on the burned land, and many horses became ill and died from grazing on it.<ref name=ahs>Paterson's curse poisoning in horses. Template:Webarchive Animal Health Surveillance Quarterly Report 8(4) Oct-Dec 2003.</ref> Because the alkaloids can also be found in the nectar of Paterson's curse, the honey made from it should be blended with other honeys to dilute the toxins.