Cerinthe major - Honeywort - (Boraginaceae)

Cerinthe major

Honeywort, a member of the family Boraginceae, is mainly found on the coast; it is a curious-looking plant with a leaf and flower stem which gradually uncurls. The flowers shown above are creamy-yellow, but there is also a deep purple form, shown below, which is only found in Portugal.

purple honeywort

These specimens were photographed at Cape St. Vincent, in the Algarve region of Portugal, during May.