Botanical name

Echiostachys ecklonianus

Family

Boraginaceae

Common Name

Bottelborsel, Ecklon's Bottlebrush

Status

Endangered

Echiostachys ecklonianus
Echiostachys ecklonianus
Echiostachys ecklonianus
Echiostachys ecklonianus
Echiostachys ecklonianus
Echiostachys ecklonianus

Description

Perennial, with woody underground stems up to 35cm. Leaves in tufts, hairy, lower leaves larger; purplish or pink to bluish flowers in dense racemes, central veins hairy; strongly scented - on the 'spicy side of floral'.

Very dependent on fire.

Greek: ekhinos = hedgehog; stachys = ear of corn: referring to the shape and detail of flowerheads.

After: C. F. Ecklon (1795-1869), Danish botanist and pharmacist, one of the early botanical explorers of the Cape.

Habitat

Sandy or gravelly lower mountain slopes mostly after fire

Flower Date

January to November