Family: srhkolistovke (Boraginaceae)
Flowering time: March–May
Size: 10–20 cm
Habitat: forests, forest edges, shrubby areas and meadows
The basal leaves of common lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) usually overwinter. Leaves with a heart-shaped or rounded base are distinctly quickly narrowed into a petiole and mostly speckled with whitish spots. On the upper side they are densely covered with short (less than 0,1 mm long) papillae. These are small protuberances of various shapes, usually formed by the leaf epidermis. In addition to the papillae, the leaves of common lungwort are also clothed with bristly hairs and rare glandular hairs. The inner surface of the lip-shaped crown is bare. Its pentamerous flowers are initially pink, later pale violet.
People have long used lungwort to relieve various ailments, mainly for the respiratory and digestive systems and for inflammations.
It grows on fresh, nutrient-rich soils throughout Slovenia.
