Borage (English spelling)

Japanese: ルリジサ（英語表記）borage

An annual plant of the family Violaceae that blooms beautiful blue flowers (illustration). Native to the Mediterranean region. It has been widely cultivated as a garden plant in Europe since the Middle Ages and has spread to various places. It was introduced to Japan in the middle of the Meiji period, but is not widely cultivated. The stem is branched, 30-60 cm tall, and rough with many bristles. It is juicy and smells like cucumber when crushed. The leaves at the bottom of the stem are large and obovate with wavy edges, and the short petioles have well-developed wings, resembling lettuce leaves. The upper leaves are smaller, stalkless, and oblong.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

美しい青色の花を咲かすムラサキ科の一年草（イラスト）。地中海地方原産。ヨーロッパでは中世以来，庭園植物として広く栽培され，各地に逸出している。日本には明治中ごろに紹介されたが，あまり栽培されていない。茎は分枝し高さ30～60cm，剛毛が多くざらつく。汁質で，もむとキュウリのにおいがする。茎下部につく葉は大型で倒卵形，縁は波打ち，短い葉柄には翼が発達し，チシャの葉に似ている。上部の葉はより小型で柄はなく，長楕円形。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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