The first thing you will notice about the Viper's Bugloss is the way the
rows of flower-buds curl like a scorpion.
The plant is common in most parts of the country, in waste places, by
shingly sea beaches, and on chalky soil. It flowers in summer and
autumn.
The Viper's Bugloss is a stout, upright plant, with a curious pale green
hairy stem, which is dotted all over with red spots. From this thick
stem others, small and thin, branch on alternate sides, and drooping
from the end of each stem is a double row of bright pink buds. The pair
of buds nearest the main stem open first, and when in full bloom the
flowers are usually bright blue, but sometimes you will find them deep
purple or white. These flowers are bell-shaped and they open wide at the
mouth, which is unevenly divided into five graceful points.
Each flower sits in a green calyx-cup edged with five sharply pointed
teeth.
There is a row of narrow green pointed leaves, standing up like a
cockscomb behind each row of flowers. These leaves curl over at the tip,
along with the buds, and they uncurl as the flowers open.
The leaves of the Viper's Bugloss are rough and hairy, with smooth
edges.