Cynoglossum creticum - Blue Hound's-tongue

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: insertae sedis - Family: Boraginaceae

This erect, branching biennial or perennial plant is finely hairy and has a taproot. Blue Hound's-tongue is common throughout the Mediterranean region and is notable for its very attractive, deep blue and lilac flowers, which are veined with darker blue.

Flowering times

Blue Hound's Tongue usually flowers from March until July in southern Europe.

Habitat

This lovely wildflower can be found almost anywhere from streamsides to field margins, roadsides, olive groves and open grassy areas (where these specimens were growing).

Distribution

Cynoglossum creticum is most common in the warm, dry parts of southern Europe, including some parts of southern France and many of the islands in the Mediterranean Sea; and its range extends eastwards into Israel, Jordan and other parts of the Middle East. The specimens shown on this page were photographed in the Algarve region of Portugal during May.

Etymology

The genus name Cynoglossum comes from greek Kynos- meaning dog and -glossum meaning tongue, while the specific epithet creticum is a reference to the island of Crete, where this plants can ineed be found.