




Echium plantagineum
Common name: Paterson’s Curse
Echium is from the Greek word echion, the name used by Dioscorides for this plant. Plantagineum is named after the genus Plantago.
Occurs across much of southern Australia.
An erect herb to 1 metre tall. The purple flowers are produced from September to November.
Paterson’s curse is a declared plant meaning that landholders are required by law to control this plant on their land. This species is originally from southern Europe.
Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.
Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2889451
Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6681