Taxonomy: Fam. Boraginaceae// Genus: Anchusa// Species: Anchusa officinalis L.
Determined according to the botanical key provided in The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia (Matevski, 2010). Variability: two forms occur in the Osogovo region: Anchusa officinalis L. var. moesiaca (Vel.) Gusul. (syn. Anchusamoesiaca Vel.) and Anchusa officinalis L. var. officinalis. In the Euro+Med PlantBase, these two taxa are accepted at the subspecies level, where Anchusamoesiaca Velen. is considered a synonym of Anchusa officinalis subsp. intacta (Griseb.) Selvi & Bigazzi.
Distinction between varieties:
Anchusa officinalis L. var. moesiaca (Vel.) Gusul. (syn. Anchusa moesiaca Vel.)- calyx divided from c. 2/3 up to almost to base;
Anchusa officinalis L. var. officinalis – calyx divided c. 1/2 of the length;
Distribution:Anchusa officinalis L. subsp. officinalis is native from Europe to Turkey and Kazakhstan, while Anchusa officinalis subsp. intacta (Griseb.) Selvi & Bigazzi is native to the Balkan Peninsula according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal.
Lifeform: Perennial; hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiær system.
Habitat: Grasslands, rocky terrains, bushlands, clearings of forests, roadsides.
Flowering period: Late spring – summer: MAY, JUN, JUL.
Anchusa officinalis L. var. moesiaca (Vel.) Gusul. (syn. Anchusa moesiaca Vel.)
Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – habit. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – habit. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – upper part of plant with inflorescence and upper cauline leaves. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – inflorescence. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – inflorescence. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – flowers. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – flowers. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – flowers. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – lower part of plant- basal leaves, stem with lower cauline leaves and developing flowering stems. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – stem with lower cauline leaves. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. moesiaca – basal leaves. Osogovo, near “Saint Panteleimon” monastery, 10.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Anchusa officinalis L. var. officinalis
Anchusa officinalis var. officinalis – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. officinalis – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis var. officinalis – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis – habit. Mountain ridge between the gorges of “Kochanska” River and “Orizarska” River, 13.06.2020. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis – flowering stems (left) and inflorescence (right). Mountain ridge between the gorges of “Kochanska” River and “Orizarska” River, 13.06.2020. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis– inflorescence with flowers. Mountain ridge between the gorges of “Kochanska” River and “Orizarska” River, 13.06.2020. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis – flowers. Mountain ridge between the gorges of “Kochanska” River and “Orizarska” River, 13.06.2020. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis– stem with cauline leaves. Mountain ridge between the gorges of “Kochanska” River and “Orizarska” River, 13.06.2020. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis subsp. officinalis – habit (left) and upper part of plant with inflorescence (right). Gorge of “Kochanska” River, 29.06.2014. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis – flowers. Gorge of “Kochanska” River, 29.06.2014. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anchusa officinalis – lower art of plant – stem with cauline leaves. Gorge of “Kochanska” River, 29.06.2014. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
