Echium vulgare

Echium vulgare is toxic to horses. The reported severity is critical. Also known as Viper's-Bugloss, Blue-Devil and Viper's Bugloss.

horses

Mild Moderate Severe Critical

If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Fees may apply.

Symptoms to watch for

Liver Failure Depression Head Pressing Incoordination Dermatitis Jaundice Weight Loss

The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.

About

Echium vulgare, known as viper's bugloss and blueweed, is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. It is native to most of Europe and western and central Asia and it occurs as an introduced species in north-eastern North America, south-western South America and the South and North Island of New Zealand. If eaten, the plant is toxic to horses and cattle through the accumulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the liver.

Common Names

  • Viper's-Bugloss
  • Blue-Devil
  • Viper's Bugloss

Also recorded as Blue Echium, Blue Thistle, Blueweed, Common Echium, Common Viper's Bugloss and Vipers Bugloss.

Facts

Family
Boraginaceae
Duration
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Growth habit
Forb/herb
Native to
Flanders, Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
In the wild
FR, DE, NL, GB, SE, RU + more
Source
Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elsewhere

Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.