Symphytum L.

Herb forming large clumps, scabrid or stongly hispid; stems to c. 100 cm tall, purplish at base. Root becoming very thick. Basal lvs very large; lamina ovate, ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, to c. 30 × 12 cm (often much smaller); upper surface especially harshly hispid with few to many bulbous-based hairs; base attenuate to form petiolar wing; cauline lvs much smaller, the uppermost sessile with base continued down stem as a narrow wing; wing usually < 2 mm wide, extending to at least 1/2 way to node below. Cymes densely hispid. Calyx 4-8 mm long at anthesis, ± accrescent, lobed nearly to base; lobes linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, acute to short-acuminate. Corolla (1)-1.3-1.7 × 0.6-1 cm, broadly cylindric, lower part of tube whitish, expanded upper part and lobes pink to light purple, often becoming blue or purplish blue with age and when dried, glandular-puberulent outside; lobes c. 1 mm long; scales included, ± narrow-triangular. Filaments (excluding base) < to almost = anther width; anthers slightly to obviously < scales. Style exserted, sometimes very shortly so. Nutlets 3-6 mm long, finely granular and rugose.