Pollinator plant

Alkanet

Anchusa officinalis

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Common names

32 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Alkanet
  • common alkanet[1][2]
  • Common bugloss
Other languages (25)
Dutch
French
Belarusian
  • Пакрывец лекавы[2]
Bulgarian
  • Лечебно паче гнездо[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • pilát lékařský[2]
Danish
  • Læge-oksetunge[2]
  • Lægeoksetunge[2]
Estonian
  • harilik imikas[2]
Finnish
  • rohtorasti[2]
German
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Hungarian
  • Orvosi atracél[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • アルカネット[2]
Latvian
  • Ārstniecības vēršmēle[2]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinis godas[2]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Farbownik lekarski[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Воловик лекарственный[2]
Slovak
  • smohla lekárska[2]
Slovenian
  • navadni volovski jezik[2]
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Воловик лікарський[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Anchusa officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Gewone Ossentong — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglosse officinale — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • common alkanet — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Blutwurz — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Gemeine Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Gewöhnliche Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Liebäugel — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglossa comune — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglossa — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
[2] Anchusa officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Gewone Ossentong — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglosse officinale — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • common alkanet — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Blutwurz — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Gemeine Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Gewöhnliche Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Liebäugel — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglossa comune — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglossa — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • rohtorasti — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Воловик лекарственный — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Lægeoksetunge — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Лечебно паче гнездо — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Oxtunga — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Farbownik lekarski — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • pilát lékařský — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • oksetunge — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Læge-oksetunge — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Vaistinis godas — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • smohla lekárska — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • アルカネット — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • harilik imikas — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • 朱草 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • 朱草 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Воловик лікарський — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Пакрывец лекавы — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Orvosi atracél — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Ārstniecības vēršmēle — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • ballağan — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • navadni volovski jezik — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Boraginaceae

Genus-level classification for Anchusa; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium

Solitary wild bees

High suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.60 m high × 0.00 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Shoots
Functions
Dye
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Leaves and young shoots of this plant can be boiled and eaten like spinach. The flowers can also be cooked or used as a garnish. Additionally, the red dye from the roots can be used to color oils and fats.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Anchusa — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5292139; ID VHH; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.