Purple Gromwell - Lithospermum purpureocaeruleum

Scientific Name: Lithospermum purpureocaeruleum.

English Name: Purple Gromwell.

French Name: Le Grémil pourpre-bleu.

5 Key Characters:

• bright deep blue star shaped flowers 12 - 15 mm across.
• spreading downy plant up to 60 cm high.
• long pointed stalkless rough dark green leaves.
• flowers have white throats.
• flowers start off red-purple.

Lookalikes: Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens, which has fewer flowers, with round petals and wider leaves.

Habitat: Open woodland and scrub on calcareous soils.

Flowering Period: April-May-June.

Status: Widespread, locally common, conspicuous.

Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:
Photographs numbered from left to right and top to bottom. 1 - 7 by a track on a limestone spur near Preuilly-sur-Claise, April.