Boraginaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous) annuals or perennials. Plants often with rough, stiff hairs. Flower buds coiled like a fiddlehead; uncoils as the flowers open. The 5 sepals and 5 petals usually attach below the ovary; petals form a tube with 5 stamens. Sepals are persistent in fruit and often continue to grow after the rest of the flower has died. There are 1 or 2 stigmas. Flowers are usually perfect and radially symmetrical. Fruit is a schizocarp (capsule) that usually splits into four nutlets.

Leaves usually alternate, simple, edges often untoothed.