# Pacific hound's tongue (*Adelinia grandis*) Pacific hound's tongue is a unique plant with beautiful, fuzzy leaves. It grows in coastal areas and can attract butterflies and bees, making it a special part of nature's garden. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Pacific hound's tongue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cynoglossum_grande_8050.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cynoglossum_grande_8050.JPG) ## Appearance The Pacific hound's tongue has broad, fuzzy green leaves that resemble a dog's tongue. Its delicate blue-purple flowers, sometimes white, grow in loose clusters atop tall stems, standing out against the forest floor. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Adelinia ## Interesting facts - Its large, soft leaves actually feel like a puppy's ear! Wow! - Little blue flowers open up like tiny umbrellas after winter rains! Wow! - Some small creatures use its big leaves as a cozy hiding spot! Wow! - The plant's scientific name Adelinia honors a famous botanist! Wow! ## Special abilities - **Seed Hitchhiker:** Pacific hound's tongue produces barbed seeds that stick to animals, spreading its offspring far and wide. - **Shade Seeker:** Pacific hound's tongue can thrive in low-light conditions, allowing it to grow in dense forest understories. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late winter to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Collects nectar and pollen. - **Depends on:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Disperses seeds stuck to fur. - **Shelter:** [Coast Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coast-live-oak) (*Quercus agrifolia*) — Provides shade for understory growth. ## 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. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [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. - [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. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pacific 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 Pacific hound's tongue? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Pacific hound's tongue spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Pacific hound's tongue? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does Pacific hound's tongue bloom? Late winter to early summer ### Is Pacific hound's tongue edible? No ### Is Pacific hound's tongue toxic? Moderate ### What is Pacific hound's tongue's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [El Sereno Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-sereno-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huckleberry-botanic-regional-preserve) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Los Trancos Open Space Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/los-trancos-open-space-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/malakoff-diggins-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Jack London State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jack-london-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see Pacific hound's tongue](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pacific-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: [Pacific hound's tongue: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-hounds-tongue)