Cynoglossum officinale - Blue Houndstongue

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

Description

This erect, branching biennial plant has hairy tongue-shaped leaves - some are visible at the base of the plant shown above. (Don't be mislead by the serrate, veined leaves also visible in the picture: they are the leaves of an adjacent Yellow Rattle plant!) The stems are topped by clusters of typically 5 to 10 attractive, red or occasionally reddish-purple flowers. The individual funnel-shaped to saucer-shaped flowers are 6 to 10mm across and have five veined petals. The boldness of the veining varies greatly.

In the first year a rosette of hairy basal oblong or spatulate leaves with very short stalks appears; then, in the following spring, flowering stems arise from the centre of the basal rosettes.

Flowering times

Houndstongue usually flowers from May until July in southern Europe but specimens may be seen in bloom through to late August in northern European countries.

Habitat

This lovely wildflower favours dryish, well-drained alkaline soils, and can be seen in field margins, roadside verges and disturbed scrubby wasteland.

Distribution

Cynoglossum officinale is native to Europe (including Britain and Ireland) and western Asia. In Britain this lovely wldflower is in decline. Hound's-tongue is most often seen in coastal parts of southern England and Wales, but as you go further north so it becomes increasingy rare. The specimens shown on this page were photographed in Italy.

This plant is an introduction and has escaped into the wild in parts of the USA, Canada and Australia.

Etymology

The genus name Cynoglossum comes from greek Kynos- meaning dog and -glossum meaning tongue, while the specific epithet officinale is a reference to the medicinal use of this plant to treat various ailments and wounds.

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