LUNGWORT

Description

Herbaceous, perennial, vivacious plant, 15 to 50 cm high, that grows underground from a slowly creeping rhizome with adventitious roots. The simple and erect stem originates from that rhizome; it has flowers and may grow up to thirty centimeters in height. After blooming, large leaves are developed at the base, which apart from their size, are characterized by a series of white spots of irregular size and shape. Leaves are long oval-shaped, hispid, petioles plenty of white spots. Basal leaves are lanceolate and sharply pointy, narrower at the base. Cauline leaves are wider and wrapping. Leaves that sprout from the stem are smaller, but with the same white spots. Tubular and purple flowers are found at the top of the stem in short inflorescences and terminal cymes. The color goes from purplish-blue to pinkish. The fruit is dry and multiple. It belongs to the Boraginaceae family.

The whole plant.

Indications

> Respiratory tract disorders: cough, bronchitis, pharyngitis, lung tuberculosis, gingivitis.
> Rheumatisms, broken bones.

Bibliography

- Benigni, R; Capra, C; Cattorini, P. Piante Medicinali. Chimica, Farmacologia e Terapia. Milano: Inverni & Della Beffa, 1962, pp.1156-6.

- Bézanger-Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Les Plantes dans la Therapeutique Moderne. 2ª. Paris: Maloine, 1986, p. 353.

- Bézanger-Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M; Trotin, F. Plantes Médicinales des Regions Tempérées. Paris: Maloine, 1980, p.284.

- Fernández, M; Nieto, A. Plantas Medicinales. Pamplona: Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, 1982, p.144.

- Mulet, L. Estudio Etnobotánico de la Provincia de Castellón. Castellón: Diputación Provincial, 1991, p. 361.

- Paris, RR; Moyse, M. Précis de Matière Médicale. Tome III. Paris: Masson, 1971, pp. 138.

- Van Hellemont, J. Compendium de Phytotherapie. Bruxelles: Association Pharmaceutique Belge, 1986, pp. 324-5.

- Wichtl, M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceutical. A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific basis. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 1994, pp. 397-9.