Pride of Madeira
A plant from Madeira that has spread to new regions.
Copyright Egon Krogsgaard
Pride of Mareira grows naturally only on the island of Madeira. However, it is cultivated in many places around the world, and in some areas it has spread aggressively in the wild – for example in California, where it was originally introduced as a garden plant.
The species is therefore a good example of what can happen when plants are moved into new regions where they do not naturally occur.
The plant’s Danish name, hvid slangehoved (“white viper’s head”), is a translation of its scientific name Echium candicans. The genus name Echium comes from the Greek word echis, meaning “snake”, and refers to the shape of the flower, where the split style resembles a snake’s forked tongue in an open mouth. The species name candicans is derived from Latin and means “white” or “whitish”, and is used for plants with a white or silvery appearance. This may seem surprising, as the flowers are often blue, but the name refers to the dense, tiny white hairs on the leaves that give the plant a pale, whitish sheen.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: Not currently on display
- Danish name: Hvid slangehoved
- Latin name: Echium candicans
- Family: Borage family / Boraginaceae
- Natural habitat: Madeira