Knowing and identifying plants by their Latin names is absolutely essential when you are considering eating them.  Many plants share common names.  Suppose someone gives you a plant they call Alkanet.

Is it?  Anchusa officianalis-  Alkanet or Common Bugloss (noxious weed in Global Compendium of Weeds)

Alcanna tinctioria syn. Anchusa tinctoria - Alkanet or Dyer’s Bugloss

Lithospermum arvense- Bastard Alkanet or Field Gromwell (noxious weed)

Anchusa barrelieri syn. Anchusa laxiflora, Borago laxiflora, Buglossum barrelieri, Cynoglottis barrelieri – False Alkanet or Barrelier’s Bugloss

Pentaglottis sempervirens syn.Anchusa sempervirens - Green Alkanet

Anchusa azurea syn. Anchusa italica-  Anchusa (listed in Global Compendium of Weeds)

or  Anchusa ochroleuca- Yellow Alkanet

From the foregoing example these plants have the common name of Alkanet or Anchusa.  Three share the common name of Bugloss. They are all in the family of Boraginaceae but not all of them are edible. Some also have synonyms by which they are known.

Anchusa officianalis, Alcanna tinctiori, Pentaglottis sempervirens,  Anchusa azurea,  have edible and medicinal properties.

Lithospermum arvense- has no edible qualities but does have medicinal properties (noxious weed in Global compendium of Weeds)

Anchusa barrelieri no references on being edible (unless you’re a butterfly caterpillar) ; used as an ornamental plant (Even knowing Latin names can be confusing!) Listed on the Global Compendium of Weeds http://www.hear.org/gcw/

Anchusa ochroleuca I have found no references on being edible (listed in Global Compendium of Weeds)

One reference stated there are approximately 185 species of Anchusa and another stated there are around 40 species with four subgenera. Very possibly some of them also have the same common name of Alkanet.

Trying to identify a plant using its Latin name can sometimes be very confusing and time consuming. Changes are always happening in the world of classification of plants.

Still it is important to have a plant identified by its Latin name. You want to  be properly informed as to the edibility of any plant for consumption or used for its medicinal properties.  Always obtain seeds or plants from reputable sources.