The viper's nest, scientifically known as echium vulgare and popularly known as viperine, ox tongue or wild borage, is a biennial herb of the family Boraginaceae It presents an interesting range of botanical characteristics, medicinal properties, and ethnobotanical uses. Its uniqueness and phytotherapeutic richness have made it an object of study and use from ancient times to the present day, although its consumption should always be cautious due to its pyrrolizidine alkaloid content.
Botanical description and morphology of the viper's bugloss (echium vulgare)
echium vulgare it's a plant biennial (sometimes annual or perennial depending on conditions), which typically develops a rosette of elongated green leaves covered with stiff, coarse hairs during its first year. In the second year, it produces erect, sparsely branched stems that can exceed a meter in height under optimal conditions and retain the characteristic hairiness of the species.
The basal leaves are elliptical o lanceolate, fleshy, with a thin or petiolate base, while the upper leaves are elongated, thinner, and sessile. The entire plant, but especially the stem, is covered with short, stiff hairs with a pustulated base that gives it a rough appearance to the touch, which is why it is sometimes called "ox tongue."
The flowers They are grouped in spike-shaped or paniculate inflorescences, very striking due to their hues ranging from deep blue to violet, although they can occasionally be whitish. Each flower is tubular, with five lobes and five unequal stamens that protrude markedly. The calyx is divided into five linear sepals.
El fruit The viper's beetle is a tuberculate nutlet approximately 2-3 mm in size, containing the seeds and whose triangular shape vaguely resembles a viper's head. This morphological peculiarity is at the origin of both its common and scientific names ("Echium" derives from the Greek Ekios, snake).
Distribution and habitat
The viper's ear is native to much of Europe, also spreading to North Africa, Western Asia, and some regions of America and Oceania where it has been introduced. In the Iberian Peninsula, it is a very common plant and is present from sea level to altitudes above 2.000 m.
Their favorite habitat is open and nitrified lands —such as ditches, slopes, pastures, borders, and abandoned crops—where it can thrive in both acidic and alkaline soils, although it prefers dry or moderately moist, well-drained soils. Its resilience and adaptability make it common along roadsides and disturbed areas.
It blooms from late spring to late summer, depending on the latitude and altitude of the location.
Vernacular names and synonyms
The viper's snout has numerous popular names in different languages and regions:
- Spanish: Viper's tongue, ox tongue, cow tongue, viperine, purple viper, viper herb.
- Catalan: Bigalosa, viperina, herba de vibre, llengua de bou.
- Galician: Borraxa, borax brava, borraxon, soaxe.
- Basque: Eugegorri-belarra.
- Portuguese: Cow tongue.
Some of its botanical synonyms include Echium anglicum, Echium elegans, Echium lusitanicum, among others.
Chemical composition and active ingredients
The medicinal importance of the viper's bugloss is mainly due to the presence of mucilages, tannins, allantoin and especially pyrrolizidine alkaloids (echimidine, consolidite, heliosupine, equiine), which in high concentrations can be toxic to the nervous system and liver, so prolonged or excessive use of the plant should be avoided.
- Mucilages: present especially in the flowers, responsible for its emollient and demulcent action.
- Tannins: They have an astringent action and contribute to their topical uses.
- Allantoin: promotes the regeneration and healing of skin tissues.
- Alkaloids: equine, consolidin, consolidin (related to toxic effects at high doses).
- Choline y microelements: with potential metabolic benefits.
Medicinal properties and traditional applications
Since ancient timesThe viper's ear has been valued as a natural remedy in traditional European medicine. Dioscorides already mentioned its use against viper bites, a popular belief based on the "doctrine of signatures" due to the similarity between its fruit and a snake's head. While this use is erroneous, the plant does have other applications, which are detailed below:
1. Internal use
- Emollient and pectoral: Infusions of dried viper's bugloss flowers and leaves were used to calm coughs, soften respiratory mucous membranes, relieve bronchitis and sore throats.
- Diuretic and purifying: Its compounds promote the elimination of fluids and toxins, and it has been traditionally used to combat fluid retention, edema, and rheumatic conditions.
- Diaphoretic: It helps stimulate perspiration, which is why it was used for mild fevers and colds.
Long-term internal use is currently not recommended due to the potential toxicity of its alkaloids, especially in the leaves.
2. External and cosmetic use
- Local emollient: Viper's bugloss flower poultices or plasters were applied to the skin to soften irritated areas and soothe boils, chilblains, hangnails and other skin conditions.
- Healing and regenerating: Thanks to allantoin and tannins, it is used to accelerate the healing of superficial wounds, minor burns or scars.
- Natural cosmetics: It has been used in masks to soothe sensitive, reddened, or acne-prone skin. The seed oil contains omega 3 (stearidonic acid), with anti-inflammatory and skin-protective action.
3. Food and ethnobotanical uses
The viper's snail is considered edible wild plant, although extreme caution should be exercised:
- The young leaves from the basal rosette were traditionally consumed, mainly raw in salads, although today it is not recommended due to its alkaloid content.
- The bare stemsOnce the hair has been removed, they can be used for green preparations.
- The flowers, due to their abundant nectar and sweet taste, have been consumed occasionally, although their main use remains medicinal and not for food.
Ecological importance, pollination and relationship with fauna
The viper's snout is a species melliferous important in the ecosystems where it lives. Its blue-violet flowers produce large amounts of nectar, which is why they are highly visited by bees (Apis mellifera) and other pollinating insects. The ability of its petals to reflect ultraviolet light helps attract these insects.
- The inflorescences of the viper's bugloss promote local biodiversity, serving as food for a wide range of pollinators.
- The fruit, dispersed locally, contributes to the regeneration of plant communities in altered areas.
The entire plant, especially the inflorescences, can be considered a bioindicator of dry or moderately fertile soils—it does not thrive in soils that are too waterlogged or extremely rich in nutrients.
Toxicity, precautions and contraindications
The use of viper's comb for medicinal purposes requires prudence, because although its pyrrolizidine alkaloids are usually found in low concentrations, they can be toxic to the liver and nervous system if consumed regularly or excessively, especially in children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and people with liver problems.
- Not recommended self-medication or prolonged use of infusions of leaves or flowers.
- Avoid internal use in case of a history of liver disease.
- External preparations (poultices, ointments) are safer, although individual tolerance should always be checked.
Other traditional uses and curiosities
- Natural colourant: Viper's bugloss root contains tannins and has traditionally been used to dye fabrics and wool red.
- Popular beliefs: In ancient times it was wrongly assumed that it possessed magical properties that protected against viper bites due to the similarity of the fruit to the head of this reptile.
- Ruderal and pioneer plant: It plays a relevant role in the recovery of altered soils, since it rapidly colonizes ditches, disturbed land and abandoned crops, contributing to plant restoration and soil fixation.
Collection, preparation and preservation
The flowers and sometimes the young leaves are collected just before or shortly after flowering, in the spring and summer months. For traditional use:
- The dried flowers They are stored in cool, dry places, away from direct light, to preserve their mucilages and active ingredients.
- The poultices and plasters They are prepared by crushing fresh or dried flowers and applying them directly to the skin.
- The infusions They were formerly prepared with a teaspoon of dried flowers per cup of water, although it is currently recommended to restrict their use and consult with health professionals.
Taxonomic classification
- Domain: eukarya
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Magnoliopside
- Order: lamiales
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Gender: echium
- Species: echium vulgare
Ecological indicators and adaptations
- Light: It needs full sun and does not tolerate intense shade.
- Ground: It prefers dry or moderately dry soils, rich in bases, with a pH of 5,5 to 8.
- Nutrients: moderately poor or slightly rich soils; does not thrive in heavily fertilized soils.
- Tolerance: It tolerates some soil disturbance, acting as a pioneer species.
The viper's snare (echium vulgare) is a botanical species of great interest due to its hardiness, its value as a wild honey plant, and its diverse traditional uses. Precautions regarding its toxicity require responsible use of its medicinal properties. Whether cultivated or collected in the wild, its beauty and ecological value make it an important species in European and Mediterranean flora.