Echium
|e-chi-um|
/ˈiːkiəm/
viper-associated plant
Etymology
'Echium' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'echion', where 'echis' meant 'viper'.
'Echium' changed from the ancient Greek word 'echion' into botanical Latin as 'Echium' and was adopted into modern English as the genus name 'Echium'.
Initially, it referred to a plant associated with or resembling a viper (the name alluding to the seed or medicinal use against snakebite); over time it came to be used specifically as the botanical genus name for these plants.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of flowering plants in the borage family (Boraginaceae), native mainly to Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia; species are often characterized by erect spikes of tubular flowers and are grown ornamentally or for nectar.
Echium plants are valued in gardens for their tall, colorful flower spikes and for attracting bees.
Last updated: 2025/08/22 19:09