Wikimedia Commons
Boraginaceae
Hound's Tongue
Cynoglossum officinale
Persistence and folk medicine.
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Cynoglossum
- Native to
- Europe, western Asia
- Bloom season
- Late Spring, Summer
- Type
- biennial
- Height
- 30–90 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- dry, sandy, disturbed
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 4–8
- Lifespan
- biennial
Did you know
- The common name comes from the broad, rough-textured basal leaves that resemble a dog's tongue.
- Its burr-like nutlets are covered in hooked barbs that cling to animal fur, ensuring long-distance seed dispersal.
- The genus name Cynoglossum literally translates from Greek as 'dog's tongue' (kynos + glossa).
- Historically the leaves were placed inside shoes to repel fleas and soothe tired feet.
- The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids toxic to livestock, making it a serious pasture weed in North America.
Color meanings
Reddish-Purple
stubborn tenacity