The Boraginaceae or borage family has about 2700 species in 150 genera and is comprised of trees, herbaceous plants and shrubs. The tree genera are distributed across the world in tropical and subtropical regions, while the herbs are present almost everywhere although concentrated mainly in the Mediterranean and warm temperate Asia. Another family in taxonomic limbo, the APG system includes the Hydrophyllaceae, which Heywood considers a natural family, and others have broken the Boraginaceae into several families. Vegetative parts are typically stiff-haired, and the flowers are in terminal or axillary cymes or solitary. The fruit is most often a schizocarp that splits into four 1-seeded nutlets. Economic uses of family members include edi- ble fruit, timber, dyes, and medicines. Some of the more well known plants are borage, comfrey, heliotrope, forget-me-nots, popcorn flowers, and fiddlenecks.