Houndstongue, Gypsyflower
Cynoglossum officinale L.
Boraginaceae (Borage Family)
▲ ▼ first year rosettes, non-flowering
▲ ▼ flowering plants
▲ ▼ flowering plants
▲ flowerings
▲ fruit
Houndstongue:
·
Herbaceous
biennial in the Borage Family (Apiacaeae) native to Eurasia with rosette of
ovate, soft, hairy leaves
during first year
·
Produces a 1-3 foot tall flowering stem in second year, with racemes of small
reddish to maroon or almost purple, 5-petaled flowers
·
Stems
are green and also covered with soft hairs; more hairy plants have grayish
appearance
·
Fruit forms in 4 sections, with small gland-tipped spines around outside of
fruit
·
Leaves and stems are very toxic to livestock