Viper's Bugloss

Today's the day . . . . . . . . . . . . . for wildflowers

The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path which follows the coastline very near to where we've been staying, is awash with wildflowers of many kinds.  It has been a joy to discover several new ones (to me) and the butterflies and insects that feed on them.

This one is Viper's bugloss  - a hairy plant with dense spikes of bright blue, funnel-shaped flowers.. It may have got its common name, 'Viper', from its spotted stem, which is said to resemble a snake's markings, or from the shape of its flowers, which look like the head of a snake. 'Bugloss' comes from the Greek meaning 'ox's tongue' and refers to the rough, tongue-shaped leaves.

An interesting name however it came about - and a lovely little plant . . . . . .