Other names: Salvation Jane.
Family: Boraginaceae (Borage family).
Native of Europe.
Occurrence: Scattered occurrence in the Central Victoria. It is becoming more abundant.
Identification:
- it is many-branched
- it has a prominent rosette of leaves at the base of the plant
- the leaves have prominent veins at an angle to the main leaf vein
- the flowers are towards the ends of the branches
- the tube flowers are usually red turning to purple; however the colour is variable and may be white
- the flowers have two stamens (and the one style) protruding from the flower tube.
Paterson’s Curse is a declared noxious weed and regionally Restricted in central Victoria. The large rosette of basal leaves can smother other plants. It is a biennial. Paterson’s Curse contains poisons which are cumulative in stock. The hairs on the plant can cause skin rash. It can be spread from infected hay. There are reports of 30,000 seeds per square metre. The seeds can lie dormant for some years.
Similar species: *Viper’s Bugloss (*Echium vulgare) is very similar. It is an erect, little-branched, does not have well-developed lateral veins in the leaves, and four stamens protrude from the flower tubes.
Name: plantagineum: (leaves) like a plantain.
2. Kentucky Forest, NSW. 3. Rosette of leaves. The lateral veins are prominent.
4. Paddock of Paterson’s Curse. Yass district. The large rosettes can smother other vegetation and leave bare ground when the plants die.