View source for Echium plantagineum

{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Echium April 2010-2.jpg
|image_caption = In Portugal
|genus = Echium
|species = plantagineum
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

'''''Echium plantagineum''''', commonly known as '''purple viper's-bugloss''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17}}</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 [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]] and east to the [[Crimea]]), northern [[Africa]], and southwestern [[Asia]] (east to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]).<ref name=flora>[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Echium&SPECIES_XREF=plantagineum&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= ''Echium plantagineum''.] ''Flora Europaea''.</ref><ref name=grin>{{GRIN | access-date = 2017-12-18}}</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 alkaloid]]s, it is [[poisonous]] to grazing livestock, especially those with simple digestive systems, such as [[Horse|horses]].

==Description==
''Echium plantagineum'' is a [[Annual plant|winter annual plant]] growing to 20–60&nbsp;cm tall, with rough, hairy, lanceolate [[leaf|leaves]] up to 14&nbsp;cm long. The [[flower]]s are purple, 15–20&nbsp;mm long, with all the [[stamen]]s protruding, and borne on a branched spike.<ref name=blamey>Blamey, M. & C. Grey-Wilson. ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. 1989. {{ISBN|0-340-40170-2}}</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 [[Botanical name#Binary name|specific epithet]] ''plantagineum'' refers to the leaves of the plant, which are similar to those of a [[Plantago|plantain]].<ref name=Parsons>W. T. Parsons, William Thomas Parsons and E. G. Cuthbertson {{Google books|sRCrNAQQrpwC|Noxious Weeds of Australia|page=325}}</ref>

==Invasive species==
[[Image:Echium plantagineum flowers.JPG|thumb|right|In Adelaide, South Australia]]

{{See also|Echium plantagineum in Australia}}

''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)
 {{google books|suFZAwAAQBAJ|Beef Cattle Production and Trade|page=272}}</ref>

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>{{cite web|title=Paterson's Curse ''Echium plantagineum'' in the Pacific Northwest|publisher=Oregon State University|date=October 2007|url=http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/pnw/pnw602-e.pdf|access-date=2010-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002190424/http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/pnw/pnw602-e.pdf|archive-date=2012-10-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Oregon, it has been declared a [[noxious weed]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Paterson's Curse|publisher=Oregon Department of Agriculture|date=February 12, 2008|url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/WEEDS/Pages/profile_pcurse.aspx|access-date=2013-10-20}}</ref>

==Toxicity==
''E. plantagineum'' &ndash; commonly called Paterson's curse or pyrrolizidinosis in [[veterinary medicine]] &ndash; contains [[pyrrolizidine alkaloid]]s, which is poisonous to grazing animals, especially nonruminants.<ref name=MERCK>[http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/htm/bc/ttox05.htm  The MERCK Veterinary Manual, Table 5] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117170853/http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/htm/bc/ttox05.htm |date=2010-11-17 }}</ref><ref>D. Jesse Wagstaff {{google books|h7tbd-5ZAQ8C|International Poisonous Plants Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference|page=141}}</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">{{cite web| url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012205336/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/13250/patersonscursepdf.pdf|title=Paterson's Curse and Horse Health|publisher=Arts, Heritage and Environment - Government of Canberra, Australia|date=2005|access-date=13 November 2025 }}</ref> and irritate the udders of dairy cows and the skin of humans.{{cn|date=November 2025}} 

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>[http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/AHSQ-Q4-2003.pdf Paterson's curse poisoning in horses.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927093650/http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/AHSQ-Q4-2003.pdf |date=27 September 2013 }} ''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.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Echium plantagineum|position=left}}
* {{Wikispecies-inline}}
* {{CalPhotos|Echium|plantagineum}}

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[[Category:Echium|plantagineum]]
[[Category:Flora of Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]