# hound's-tongue (*Cynoglossum officinale*) Hound's-tongue is a unique plant with fuzzy leaves and pretty purple flowers. It grows in fields and along roadsides, making it a special sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![hound's-tongue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cynoglossum_officinale_W.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cynoglossum_officinale_W.jpg) ## Appearance The hound's-tongue has dull green, hairy leaves that feel rough and resemble a dog's tongue in shape and texture. Its small, five-petaled flowers are typically a striking reddish-purple or maroon color, though sometimes blue, clustered atop tall stems. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Cynoglossum ## Interesting facts - Despite its toxicity, it was once used in traditional medicine for various ailments. - It can produce thousands of seeds, making it a very successful colonizer of new areas. - Its genus name, Cynoglossum, literally means 'dog's tongue' in Greek! - The plant's distinctive seed burrs inspired the invention of velcro! ## Special abilities - **Hitchhiker Seeds:** Hound's-tongue has burr-like seeds covered in hooked barbs that easily attach to animal fur or clothing, helping it spread far and wide. - **Chemical Defense:** Hound's-tongue contains toxic compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which deter most grazing animals from eating its leaves. - **Deep Drinker:** Hound's-tongue grows a deep taproot that helps it find water and nutrients from deep in the soil, surviving dry conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 40-120 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from flowers - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Depends on:** [Kentucky bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — can be outcompeted by hound's-tongue ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Do not eat any part of the plant, as it can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify hound's-tongue? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is hound's-tongue? 40-120 cm ### How wide does hound's-tongue spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on hound's-tongue? 0.5-1 cm ### When does hound's-tongue bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is hound's-tongue edible? No ### Is hound's-tongue toxic? High ### What is hound's-tongue's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Boerner Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boerner-botanical-gardens) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Jackson Lake Lodge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-lake-lodge) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mitchell-park-horticultural-conservatory) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Morrill County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morrill-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site [View all places to see hound's-tongue](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hounds-tongue) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Hound's-tongue: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hounds-tongue)