Viper's Bugloss.
Botanical name:
Echium.
A common wild plant, about our path ways, and on ditch-banks, known by its spotted stalks, and fine blue flowers. It is a foot and half high; the stalk is round, thick, firm, hairy, and upright; it is of a whitish colour stained with spots and lines of blue, red, and purple. The leaves are longish and narrow; they are rough, and of a deep dusky green, broad and blunt at the point, and have no foot stalks. The flowers are large, and of a beautiful blue, with a red stamina in the middle.
The leaves are used; those growing from the root are best; an infusion of them is cordial, and operates by sweat; it is good in fevers, and against head-achs, and all nervous complaints.
