Aegonychon is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, placed within the order Lamiales. The genus belongs to the borage family, a group characterised by typically hairy stems and leaves and flowers often arranged in scorpioid cymes. Aegonychon encompasses a handful of species distributed across a broad range spanning Europe east through Iran and into central China and temperate eastern Asia. The best-known member, Aegonychon purpurocaeruleum, produces vivid blue-purple flowers and has historically been treated within the closely related genus Lithospermum before being segregated into Aegonychon by the Czech botanist Josef Holub.
Distribution
Aegonychon has a native range extending from Europe east to Iran, and from central China through temperate eastern Asia.
Taxonomy Notes
Aegonychon is placed in the family Boraginaceae, order Lamiales. Several of its species, including Aegonychon purpurocaeruleum, were formerly treated under the genus Lithospermum before being transferred to Aegonychon, primarily by Czech botanist Josef Holub. GBIF recognises the genus as accepted with 2 descendants.
