page_title: Borage
section_title: Characteristics and uses
hierarchical_section_title: Borage / Characteristics and uses
caption_attribution_description: English: Two blossoms of borage, the younger one is pink, the elder one blue Deutsch: Zwei Borretschblüten, die zunächst rosa Blüten färben sich später während der Anthese durch die Änderung des ph-Wertes blau.
context_page_description: Borage, also known as a starflower, is an annual herb in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has naturalized in many other locales. It grows satisfactorily in gardens in most of Europe such as Denmark, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom remaining in the garden from year to year by self-seeding. The leaves are edible and the plant is grown in gardens for that purpose in some parts of Europe. The plant is also commercially cultivated for borage seed oil extracted from its seeds. The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, some of which are hepatotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic.
context_section_description: Traditionally borage was cultivated for culinary and medicinal uses, although today commercial cultivation is mainly as an oilseed. 
  Borage is used as either a fresh vegetable or a dried herb. As a fresh vegetable, borage, with a cucumber-like taste, is often used in salads or as a garnish. The flower has a sweet honey-like taste and is often used to decorate desserts and cocktails, most commonly, frozen in ice cubes.
caption: Two blossoms, the younger one is pink, the older blue
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