Borage
Family Boraginaceae
Borago officinale, borage (B. officinalis 1), is an annual herb, native to the Middle East, with hairy stems and simple leaves. The plant is up to 1 m high with star-shaped blue flowers, which attract many insects (B. officinalis 2).
Use
Young leaves and stems have a cucumber-like flavour and are added to salads. The plant, with a high content of mineral salts, was esteemed by the ancient Greek for its invigorating properties. The Flemish botanist Dodoens mentioned in his ‘Cruydeboek’ in 1554 that borage makes a man happy and pleased.