Introduction to the Boraginaceae Family

The Boraginaceae family has undergone major revisions over the years, including several small families and then more recently, having them removed. This description teaches how to identify the Boraginaceae based on the currently accepted, much narrower definition of the family that excludes Heliotropiaceae, Hydrophyllaceae, and others, which I will all cover separately.

What I love about this family is their often instantly blue-to-violet flowers almost always arranged in unique clusters called “scorpioid cymes.” They are truly beautiful; I even love their coarse hairs that can cause rashes in some people, but to me, it just makes them even more beautiful. But I might be biased too, since I think all flowers are beautiful in their own way.

Common Botanical Description of the Boraginaceae Family

If you’re new to plant morphology, this common botanical description is a perfect beginner’s description for learning to identify the Boraginaceae family, with no need to know any scientific jargon not explained in the description. Below this section is additional information on uses and morphology photos to help you identify the family, followed by pictures of individual species found in North America. But for researchers or those wanting to learn a more in-depth version, refer to the Scientific Botanical Description below the images for highly detailed scientific descriptions, taxonomic information, and genus-level distribution data in North, Central, and South America.

Leaves and Stems of the Boraginaceae: Most members are herbaceous plants, with occasional woody shrubs, trees, or vines, often accompanied by characteristic coarse hairs that can cause skin reactions. The leaves vary in size but are always simple (not compound) and are usually arranged alternately along the stem; however, in rare cases, the lower leaves may be in opposite pairs. Leaves are usually thin to lance-shaped, and most have entire margins, but in rare cases they may be toothed. Another characteristic feature of the family is that the leaves never have small leaf-like appendages called stipules at their base, often seen in other families.

Flowers of the Boraginaceae: The flowers of this family are mostly bisexual, containing both male (stamens) and female (ovary, style, stigma) parts in the same flower. What is most characteristic of this and closely related families is the flowers in coiled clusters called “scorpioid cymes.” Boraginaceae flowers are usually regular, meaning they can be divided in half on multiple planes of symmetry, and contain usually 5 sepals that may be free or joined at the base into a tube and are often covered with hairs. They also have 5 petals that are usually blue or purple (but may be pink, yellow, or white) and often have a collection of scales in the throat.

Reproductive Features of the Boraginaceae: The stamens can vary, being free or joined, but there are always five fertile stamens (with pollen-producing anthers), and they are always attached in the throat of the flower. The ovary is deeply four-lobed, and there is a single style attached at its base.

Fruits of the Boraginaceae: The fruits are always non-fleshy nutlets or sometimes dry, dehiscent fruits called schizocarps that split apart when mature.

Uses of Boraginaceae 

Many members of the family are used ornamentally for their lovely flowers, while others are used medicinally, and still others are used as a natural source of dye.

Common cultivated family members include forget-me-not (Myosotis), Symphytum, Borago, and more. Many species have been introduced as ornamental plants or weeds, e.g., the genera Anchusa, Borago, Cynoglossum, Echium, Myosotis, and Symphytum.

Morphology of Boraginaceae in North America

Some Boraginaceae Species Found in North America

Boraginoideae Subfamily

Anchusa officinalis—Common Alkanet

This beautiful introduced wildflower has long, lance-shaped leaves that become smaller on shorter petioles further up the stem. Most of the plant is covered in fine, stiff hairs, and it produces deep violet-blue flowers with five spreading, rounded lobes. It is native primarily to the Mediterranean region, but also to most of Europe and western Asia. It is now an occasional introduced weed in North America, like this one growing wild not far from human settlements in Peachland, British Columbia, Canada.

Buglossoides arvensis—Corn Gromwell

An annual herb up to 40 cm long with stems that branch from the base, producing terminal racemes of pale blue to white flowers with forward-facing hairs on the outside and narrowly lance-shaped leaves that typically have a central groove on the upper surface. Native throughout Eurasia and northern Africa but widely introduced in Canada and the United States, as well as southern South America. This one was found in a well-maintained park in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.

Lithospermum ruderale—Wayside Gromwell

Unlike most members of the Boraginoideae subfamily, this perennial herb is native to North America, endemic to western North America from British Columbia east to Saskatchewan in Canada and from Washington State south to California and east to Montana south to Colorado in the United States. It also produces narrowly lance-shaped leaves with fine, coarse hairs and light yellow tubular flowers. It is common in dry soil with good drainage in sunny locations in its range. This one was in Princeton, British Columbia.

Cynoglossoideae Subfamily

Andersonglossum virginianum—Southern Wild Comfrey

This pretty wildflower has large comfrey-like leaves that give it one of its common names. The leaves are slightly hairy and tend to clasp the hairy stem at their base. It produces pale bluish flowers on erect, branching stems that often turn a violet color as they age. This is an uncommon endemic native of the eastern United States from Texas east to Florida and north to Vermont, where it normally grows in forested areas.

Cryptantha crassisepala—Thick-Sepaled Cryptanth

This very hairy annual herb only grows up to about 15 cm tall, with 2-6 cm long leaves and small white flowers with very thick and hairy sepals. However, examination of fruits is often needed for a positive ID. It is a southern North American endemic from California east to Kansas and Texas as well as throughout northern Mexico. It tends to grow in arid and semi-arid locations; this one was on a roadside in New Mexico.

Oreocarya aka Cryptantha flava—Yellow Cryptantha

Most sources still refer to Oreocarya as a separate genus, but authoritative sources like APG and USDA now consider it a synonym for Cryptantha, so we use both names here. This narrow endemic of Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico in the United States is known for its cheerful yellow flowers and thinner but still very hairy sepals. This one was in the Wilson Arch area, Utah.

Oreocarya aka Cryptantha fulvocanescens—Gray Cat’s Eye

Another lovely Cryptantha endemic to the American Southwest, this time in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. It has white tubular flowers with conspicuous yellow appendages in their throats and the hairy sepals we are used to seeing in the genus. This one was found growing on a dry roadside outside of Cuba, New Mexico.

Myosotis arvsenis—Field Forget-Me-Not

An annual or short-lived perennial herb with stalkless, hairy leaves and pretty inflorescences of blue flowers with white to yellow throat appendages. The flowers are in typical scorpioid cymes, but they are best visualized while the flowers are still in bud as they elongate and straighten as they bloom. This species is originally native to northern Eurasia but is now widely introduced to northern North America. This was on the side of a logging road near Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada.

Myosotis macrosperma—Largeseed Forget-Me-Not

An annual herb with hairy, stalkless leaves with a prominent midrib and tiny white flowers in condensed cymes with hairy sepals and green bracts. This one is a North American native found in disturbed areas throughout the southeastern United States north into southern Ontario, Canada.

Lappula occidentalis—Western Stickseed

This hairy annual has stalked basal leaves that are mostly oblong with rounded tips and narrower, stalkless stem leaves with pointed tips. They are best known for their elongated inflorescences of tiny white to pale blue flowers, followed by fruits containing four nutlets, each with a row of slender prickles. It is native throughout western North America from Alaska south to northern Mexico and east to Manitoba, Canada, and Iowa, United States, with some disjunct populations in the eastern United States.

Scientific Botanical Description of the Boraginaceae

Learn to identify the Boraginaceae family based on the newer, more narrow definition of the family.

Habit & Leaf Form of the Boraginaceae Family

Most are annual or perennial herbaceous plants from taproots with occasional woody shrubs, trees, or self-supporting (usually) vines. They are often hispid or scabrid with coarse hairs that may contain SiO₂ or CaCO₃, which can cause adverse skin reactions in sensitive individuals. They may or may not have a basal aggregation of leaves. Helophytic, mesophytic, or xerophytic.

Leaves are minute to medium-sized, usually alternate or sometimes alternate and opposite below. They are simple, flat, herbaceous, petiolate to sessile, usually non-sheathing or sometimes sheathing in basal rosettes, not gland-dotted, and epulvinate. The lamina is entire, usually narrow, linear to lanceolate. Leaves lack stipules. Lamina margins are mostly entire, rarely crenate or dentate. Domatia may be present.

Flowers of the Boraginaceae Family

Plants are usually hermaphrodites or occasionally gynodioecious (Echium), with predominantly entomophilous pollination via Hymenoptera. Flowers are usually aggregated in coiled (scorpioid) cymes that may appear doubled in some species; coiled cymes typically elongate in fruit. Rarely are flowers solitary. Inflorescences are terminal or axillary.

Flowers are bracteate or not, usually regular or irregular and somewhat zygomorphic (e.g. Echium); usually 5-merous and tetracyclic. Free hypanthium is not present. Hypogynous disk present or absent. Perianth has a distinct calyx and corolla with 10 (11–13) parts in 2 whorls; mostly isomerous or sometimes anisomerous (Plagiobothrys).

Calyx 5 (usually) or 5–8 (sometimes Plagiobothrys) in 1 whorl; they may be free or connate basally with lobes shorter to longer than the tube; the degree of gamosepaly is 0.1–0.5; often covered with trichomes. Calyx persistent; imbricate, open in bud or valvate (rarely).

Corolla 5 parts in 1 whorl, often appendiculate with a corona of scales from the throat protecting the nectar. Petals are fused into a tube with lobes shorter to longer than the tube. Corolla is imbricate or contorted; rotate, campanulate to hypocrateriform or tubular; unequal, regular, or often bilabiate in Echium. They are often blue or purple in color but may also be pink, white, or yellow.

Androecium of the Boraginaceae Family

There are 5 unbranched androecial members made of exclusively fertile stamens that are adnate midway down or in the throat of the corolla tube; all are equal or unequal, free or coherent, and 1-whorled. Stamens are not didynamous or tetradynamous; they are isomerous with the perianth, arranged opposite the sepals, with filaments, or sometimes appearing sessile, inserted or exserted. Filaments are appendiculate or not. Anthers are cohering, free, or connivent; dorsifixed to basifixed; dehiscing via longitudinal slits; introrse; tetrasporangiate; appendaged or unappendaged.

Gynoecium of the Boraginaceae Family

The gynoecium is usually 2-carpeled or 4–5 carpeled (some Trigonotis). Pistil 2- or 4-celled (usually via false septa) or 8-10-celled (via false septa in some Trigonotis). The gynoecium is syncarpous with a superior ovary that is nearly always 2 locular but often appears 4 locular via false septa. The gynoecium is median. Style 1 is always gynobasic from an often deeply 4-lobed ovary. Stigmas 1–2: when simple, they are often 2-lobed but may also be capitate or minute; nearly always dry type; papillate. Placentation is basal. The ovules are 2 per locule, usually separating into 1-ovuled portions; they are positioned horizontally to ascending, epitropous, and have a dorsal raphe.  

Fruit of the Boraginaceae Family

The fruits are primarily non-fleshy nutlets, dehiscent, indehiscent, or a schizocarp with 4 or 8–10 (sometimes Trigonotis) mericarps.

Taxonomy of Boraginaceae

There are 1,793 species in 94 genera in the Boraginaceae family in the Boraginales order of the core eudicots (dicots). This family recently underwent major revisions, including the removal of the Hydrophyllaceae, Heliotropiaceae, Cordiaceae, Ehretiaceae, and others based on modern molecular phylogenetics. As a result, many genera have changed in the family, but the genera listed immediately below are accurate as per APG IV. For more information on the justification of this split of the Boraginales, I encourage you to check out Luebert et al. (2016) in the references below.

There are 3 currently accepted subfamilies:

1. Boraginoideae is a large subfamily concentrated in the Mediterranean region, with some also in East Asia, Africa, and South America, but it is also introduced elsewhere. They are mostly perennial herbs, some annuals, and some shrubs; their flowers typically have a single line of symmetry and basal scales, the gynobase is flat, and the nutlets have a basal attachment scar.
2. Cynoglossoideae is the largest subfamily with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution. It is a group of mostly herbs (annual to perennial) with some shrubs, leaves with obvious secondary venation, bractless flowers, a broadly pyramidal to flat gynobase, and often compressed nutlets that are ventrally attached with a large triangular scar.
3. Echinochiloideae is a small subfamily with only 3 genera located in Mexico, south to northeastern Argentina, plus the Canary Islands, Africa, and east to western India. They are characterized by having densely hairy corolla throats and punctate stigmas (subterminal, sterile tips, bilobed or notched) with fruits that are laterally compressed nutlets.

Genera:

Boraginoideae: Aegonychon (3), Alkanna (68), Anchusa (35), Arnebia (36), Borago (5), Brunnera (3), Buglossoides (6), Cerinthe (6), Cynoglottis (2), Cystostemon (16), Echiostachys (3), Echium (68), Gastrocotyle (3), Glandora (8), Halacsya (1), Hormuzakia (3), Huynhia (2), Lithodora (3), Lithospermum (84), Lobostemon (28), Maharanga (43), Mairetis (1), Megacaryon (1), Melanortocarya (1), Moltkia (6), Moltkiopsis (1), Moritzia (3), Neatostema (1), Nonea (46), Onosma (247), Paramoltkia (1), Pentaglottis (1), Phyllocara (1), Podonosma (4), Pontechium (1), Pulmonaria (18), Stenosolenium (1), Symphytum (27), Thaumatocaryon (2), Trachystemon (1).

Cynoglossoideae: Adelinia (1), Afrotysonia (3), Amsinckia (13), Ancistrocarya (1), Andersonglossum (3), Anoplocaryum (4), Antiotrema (1), Asperugo (1), Bothriospermum (6), Brachybotrys (1), Caccinia (4), Chionocharis (1), Craniospermum (11), Cryptantha (104), Cynoglossum (83), Dasynotus (1), Decalepidanthus (9), Eremocarya (2), Eritrichium (78), Greeneocharis (2), Gyrocaryum (1), Hackelia (56), Harpagonella (2), Heterocaryum (1?), Iberodes (5), Johnstonella (17?), Lappula (81), Lasiocaryum (3), Memoremea (1), Mertensia (52), Microcaryum (1), Microparacaryum (4), Microula (34), Mimophytum (11), Myosotidium (1), Myosotis (157), Nesocaryum (1), Nihon (5), Omphalodes (11), Oncaglossum (1), Oreocarya (67? or syn. of Cryptantha), Pectocarya (13), Plagiobothrys (64), Pseudoheterocaryum (4? or syn. Suchtelenia), Pseudolappula (1), Rochelia (22), Selkirkia (4), Solenanthus (23), Suchtelenia (6), Thyrocarpus (4), Trichodesma (38), Trigonotis (70).

Echinochiloideae: Amphibologyne (1), Antiphytum (13), Echiochilon (16), Ogastemma (1).

Key Differences From Similar Families

The Hydrophyllaceae had been included as a subfamily of Boraginaceae before, though it has recently been removed and made a separate family again. They have very similar-looking scorpioid inflorescences in similar blue-to-violet colors. However, the Hydrophyllaceae always have dry capsule fruits, while the Boraginaceae have nutlets. The ovaries and seeds also differ.

The Heliotropiaceae has also recently been split out of the family, and it too has scorpioid cymes, though not all members do. However, it can be distinguished by having fewer bristly hairs that are always eglandular, leaves that are usually conduplicate, an ovary that is still often deeply lobed but has a cone-shaped stigma, and fruits that are drupes with 4 stones or are dry schizocarps.

The Ehretiaceae is another recent split. It is a small family with only 7 genera of mostly shrubs and trees as opposed to mostly herbs, and while the Boraginaceae have a gynobasic style, most of this family (excluding Tiquilia) has a terminal style with a bifid stigma.

The Cordiaceae is another recent split, but these are also mostly trees and shrubs with characteristic 4-lobed stigmas and fleshy drupes as opposed to mostly herbs with 2-lobed stigmas and producing nutlets in the Boraginaceae.

Distribution of Boraginaceae

The Boraginaceae are a cosmopolitan family found around the tropics, warm and cool temperate, and even arctic climates, although they are predominantly found in warm temperate climates, with a strong Mediterranean concentration. In the Americas, the family is found in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Distribution of Boraginaceae in the Americas

Canadian Genera Include:

Boraginoideae: Anchusa 3 spp. intro to all S provinces except NL; Borago 1 sp. intro to all S provinces but ephemeral in ON, QC, NS, and NL; Buglossoides 1 sp. intro to BC, MB, ON, QC, and NS; Cerinthe 1 sp. intro to QC?; Echium 2 spp. Intro to all of S Canada except Labrador; Lithospermum 8 spp. native to BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and QC and intro NB; Nonea 2 spp. intro to AB and QC; Pulmonaria 2 spp. intro to ON, QC, and NS; Pentaglottis 1 sp. intro to BC; Symphytum 3 spp. introduced in all of S Canada except Labrador. Cynoglossoideae: Adelinia monospecific W NAM endemic native BC; Amsinckia 6 spp. native to BC and introduced to YT, AB, and SK; Andersonglossum 1 NAM endemic sp. native to all S provinces exc. Labrador, also in YT; Asperugo monospecific intro BC, AB, SK, and MB (and Greenland); Cryptantha 11 spp. native to BC, AB, and SK; Cynoglossum 1 sp. intro to all of S Canada exc. NL and PE; Eritrichium 6 spp. native to YT and NT; Hackelia 6 spp. native to all of Canada except NU, NS, PE, and NL; Lappula 2 spp. native to YT, NT, BC, AB, SK, MB, and introduced to ON, QC, NS, NB, PE, and NL; Mertensia 7 spp. native to all of Canada, including the Arctic (and Greenland); Myosotis 9 spp. native to BC, AB, YT, NT, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, and NL and intro to SK and MB (and Greenland); Omphalodes 2 spp. intro in BC, ON, and QC; Oreocarya (or ~ Cryptantha) 1 NAM endemic native to BC, AB, and SK; Pectocarya 1 sp. native to BC; Plagiobothrys 5 spp. native to BC, AB, SK, and MB, and intro to YT, ON, QC, and NB.

USA Genera Include:

Boraginoideae: Anchusa 5 spp. intro much of USA exc. NV, AZ, NM, NE, KS, OK, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, IN, WV, and VT; Borago 1 sp. intro to WA, OR, CA, UT, MT, ND, MI, IL, MN, WI, TN, OH, VA, WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, and ME; Brunnera 1 sp. intro to MO, OH, and NY; Buglossoides 1 sp. intro to most of the USA, excluding NV, AZ, and NM; Echium 7 spp. intro to most of USA, including AK but excluding NV, AZ, ND, MS, AL, and FL; Lithospermum 17-21 spp. native and intro to all of the USA; Nonea 3 spp. intro to TN, PA, NY, and ME; Pulmonaria 1 sp. intro to NY, VT. Cynoglossoideae: Adelinia monospecific W NAM endemic native to WA, OR, and CA; Amsinckia 10 spp. native to W USA MT S to NM and all W, and intro to ND, NE, OK, TX, WI, IL, MS, OH, PA, NY, CT, MA, NH, ME, VA, NC, SC, AK, and HI; Andersonglossum  3 NAM endemic spp. native, inc. 1 endemic to OR and CA, 1 endemic to E USA from MN S to LA, plus ND, SD, OK, and TX, with a 3rd spp. native to SD, IA, WI, IL, IN, NJ, NY, NH, ME, and Canada; Asperugo monospecific intro to CA, CO, and IL; Bothriospermum 1 sp. intro HI; Cryptantha 82 spp. native in W USA from ND S to TX and all W, inc. MA, native and intro AK, most of which are endemic; Cynoglossum 9 spp. intro and native to the entire USA and intro to HI; Dasynotus monospecific narrow endemic of ID; Eritrichium 3 spp. native to AK, WA, OR, ID, WY, MT, CO, UT, and NM; Eremocarya 2 spp. S NAM endemic native OR, CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX; Greeneocharis 2 spp. native to WA, OR, CA (1 endemic), ID, NV, AZ, UT, and CO; Hackelia 29 spp. native to almost all of the USA except FL, including AK; Harpagonella 1 S NAM endemic native to CA and AZ; Johnstonella ? spp. native to CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, and TX; Lappula 4 spp. native and intro most of the USA, including AK, but excluding LA, MS, AL, FL, GA, and VA; Mertensia 18 spp. native to most of the USA, including AK, but exc. TX, OK, LA, and FL; Mimophytum 1 S NAM endemic sp. native to TX; Myosotis 11 spp. native and intro most of the USA, inc. AK, exc. ND, and intro in HI; Omphalodes 2 spp. native and intro OR and TX (USDA, POWO says otherwise); Oreocarya (or ~ Cryptantha) 32 NAM endemics native W USA from ND S to TX and all states W; Pectocarya 8 spp. native to WA, OR, ID, WY, CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, and TX; Plagiobothrys 43 spp. native to WA, OR, CA (12+ endemics), ID, MT, WY, CO, NV, UT, AZ, NM, ND, SD, NE, WI, MI, IL, AR, LA, NC, PA, MA, and ME, and intro and native to AK; Symphytum 3 spp. introduced in WA, OR, CA, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, MI, WI, MN, MO, AR, TN, KY, GA, NC, VA, WV, IN, OH, PA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME, and AK. Echinochiloideae: Antiphytum 2 spp. native to NM and TX.

Mexico Genera Include:

Boraginoideae: Lithospermum ~43 spp. native to all of Mexico, including ~32 endemics. Cynoglossoideae: Amsinckia 3 spp. native to N Mexico; Borago 1 sp. intro to SW+C Mexico; Cryptantha 5-6 spp. native to N Mexico, including 3+ endemics; Cynoglossum 1 sp. intro to NE+SW Mexico; Eremocarya 2 S NAM endemic spp. native to NW Mexico; Hackelia 5 spp. native to all of Mexico (1 endemic); Greeneocharis 1 sp. native to NW Mexico; Harpagonella 2 S NAM endemic spp. native to BC, BCS, Guadalupe Is., and Son; Johnstonella 17 spp. native to most of Mexico except Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR, most are endemic to Mexico; Lappula 1-2 spp. native to N Mexico; Mertensia 1 sp. native to NE Mexico; Mimophytum 11 S NAM endemic spp. native to Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, SLP, Pue, Qro, Hgo, Gto, Mex, Tlx, Ver, NE, C Mexico, Ver, including 10 endemics; Oncaglossum monospecific endemic in NE, C, and SW Mexico; Oreocarya 3-4? spp NAM endemics native throughout the N half of Mexico; Pectocarya 6 spp. native to NW Mexico, including 1-2 endemics of BC; Plagiobothrys 7+ spp. native to NW+C Mexico. Echinochiloideae: Amphibologyne monospecific endemic of NE and SW Mexico; Antiphytum ~10+ spp. native to much of Mexico exc. Chp, Cam, Tab, Yuc, QR, including several endemics.

Neotropical Genera Include:

Boraginoideae: Anchusa 1 sp. intro to Argentina; Borago 1 sp. intro to Guatemala, Honduras, Greater Antilles, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, C Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina; Buglossoides 1 sp. intro to Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay; Echium 1 sp. intro to C Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and S Brazil; Lithospermum ~7 spp. native to Guatemala (1) and the rest are endemic to the Andes of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Moritzia 3 neoendemic spp. native to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and SE+S Brazil; Symphytum 1 sp. intro to Dominican Republic, Haiti, C Brazil, and NE Argentina; Thaumatocaryon  2 E SAM endemic spp. native to S+SE Brazil, Paraguay, and NE Argentina. Cynoglossoideae: Amsinckia 2-3 spp. originally endemic to W SAM in Ecuador (1 still endemic), Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina; Cryptantha ~50 spp. native and endemic to W SAM in Peru, Bolivia, N+C Chile, and Argentina; Cynoglossum 1 sp. intro Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic; Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, SE Brazil, Argentina, C+S Chile, and Juan Fernandez Is.; Greeneocharis 1 sp. native NW+S Argentina; Hackelia 7 spp. native to Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru (1 endemic), Bolivia, and N Argentina; Iberodes 1 sp. intro to C Chile; Johnstonella ~6 spp. native to Peru, N Chile, and NW Argentina; Lappula 1-3 spp. intro to Venezuela and native N+S Argentina; Myosotis 1-2 spp. intro to Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, N+C Chile, N Argentina, SE Brazil, Uruguay, and Trinidad-Tobago; Nesocaryum monospecific endemic of the Desventurados Islands off the coast of NC Chile; Pectocarya 6 spp. native to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, N+C Chile, and Argentina; Plagiobothrys 8+ spp. native to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, C+S Chile, and NW+S Argentina; Selkirkia 4 SAM endemics, inc. 1 endemic to Juan Fernandez Is., 2 endemic to C+S Chile, and 1 endemic to Colombia and Ecuador; Trichodesma 1 sp. intro to Windward Is. Echinochiloideae: Antiphytum 2-3 spp. endemic to S Brazil and Uruguay.

Patagonia Genera Include:

Boraginoideae: Anchusa 1 sp. intro to S Argentina; Borago 1 sp. intro to C Chile and S Argentina; Buglossoides 1 sp. intro to S Argentina; Echium 1 sp. intro to Patagonia region; Lithospermum 1 sp. intro S Argentina. Cynoglossoideae: Amsinckia 1-2 spp. native throughout Patagonia; Asperugo monospecific intro to Patagonia region; Cynoglossum 1 sp. intro throughout Patagonia; Greeneocharis  1 sp. native S Argentina; Lappula 1 sp. native to Patagonia region; Myosotis 1-2 spp. native to S Chile and S Argentina and intro to Falkland Is.; Pectocarya 1 sp. native to S Argentina and SC Chile; Plagiobothrys 1 sp. native to C+S Chile and S Argentina; Selkirkia 2 SAM endemics native to SC and S Chile.

Additional Information and References

• Visit Lyrae’s Dictionary of Botanical Terms to learn the terminology of botanists. Note that if you hover over most of the words in the articles, you can also get definitions from them there.
• Willis, Lyrae (Unpublished). Plant Families of North America. This is where all of the family descriptions come from. Below should be most of my references for this, along with my own personal observations throughout North America.
• Canadensys: Acadia University, Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of British Columbia. http://data.canadensys.net/explorer (accessed 2020 – current)
• Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. (1992+). The Families of Flowering Plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 2nd May 2020. delta-intkey.com. Accessed spring through fall of 2020.
• FNA (1993+). Flora of North America. https://floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page. Accessed 2022-current.
• GBIF.org (2020+), GBIF Home Page. Available from: https://www.gbif.org
• iNaturalist.org (2020+). https://www.inaturalist.org/. Accessed 2020-current.
• Luebert, F., Cecchi, L., Frohlich, M. W., Gottschling, M., Guilliams, C. M., Hasenstab-Lehman, K. E., Hilger, H. H., Miller, J. S., Mittelbach, M., Nazaire, M., Nepi, M., Nocentini, D., Ober, D., Olmstead, R. G., Selvi, F., Simpson, M. G., Sutorý, K., Valdés, B., Walden, G. K., & Weigend, M. (2016). Familial Classification of the Boraginales. axon, 65(3), 502–522. https://plants.sdsu.edu/amsinckiinae/pdfs/Luebert_etal2016-Boraginales.pdf.
• Naturalista: CONABIO http://www.naturalista.mx (Accessed 2020–current).
• Neotropikey: Milliken, W., Klitgård, B., & Baracat, A. eds. (2009+). Neotropikey: Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. www.kew.org/neotropikey.com (accessed 2020 – current).
• Patagonia Wildflowers: Wildflower Identification Site. https://patagoniawildflowers.org/ Accessed throughout the fall of 2020.
• POWO (2019+). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/
• Stevens, P. F. (2001+). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, July 2017 [more or less continuously updated since]. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/. This is the authoritative source on currently accepted families, subfamilies, tribes, and genera.
• USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 2 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC, USA; Accessed 2020-present.
• WFO (2022): World Flora Online. Published on the Internet: http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed Spring 2022 – current

My Current Plant Family Education Fundraiser

I am currently seeking funding to expand my website and SEO capabilities as I keep adding new families, and I am also looking to invest in a new macro lens, as I will soon be adding floral dissections to the families as they become available to me. You can donate to help support native plant education using the GoFundMe link, also at the bottom of the page.

Copyright Information

The information and the photos on this site are free to use for educational purposes, with proper attribution. For other uses, please contact me first.

You can cite this site as follows: Willis, Lyrae (2020+). Lyrae’s Nature Blog – Plant Families of North America. https://lyraenatureblog.com/. Accessed [Enter Date].