Boraginales

Boraginales is an order of flowering plants within the angiosperms, named after the genus Borago, the borage. In the APG IV system (2016) it is recognized as a small order in the asterid clade, centered on the boraginaceous lineage, with Boraginaceae as its largest family. Hydrophyllaceae and related groups are treated as part of Boraginaceae in this circumscription, reflecting advances from molecular phylogenetics.

Historically, the circumscription of Boraginales has varied. Earlier classifications placed Hydrophyllaceae, Heliotropiaceae, and other related groups as separate families within Boraginales, but subsequent phylogenetic studies have shown close relationships among these taxa, leading to a more consolidated view under Boraginaceae sensu lato.

Morphology of Boraginales plants is diverse but shares some common features. The majority are herbaceous, with alternately arranged leaves that are often rough or hairy. Inflorescences are typically coiled scorpioid cymes that straighten as flowers open. Flowers are usually five-merous, often with a tubular or funnel-shaped corolla, and the fruit is commonly a schizocarp that divides into four nutlets.

Notable genera within Boraginales include Borago (borage) and Myosotis (forget-me-nots), as well as Heliotropium (heliotropes). The order is distributed worldwide, especially in temperate and subtropical regions. Many species are valued ornamentally, and some produce essential oils or have traditional uses.

Ecologically, Boraginales species often serve as nectar sources for pollinators and can occupy a range of habitats from arid to woodland environments. Taxonomic understanding continues to evolve as molecular data refine interfamily relationships within the order.