  Hound's Tongue
Cynoglossum officinale
Family: Boraginaceae
Description and Life Cycle
A biennial or short-lived perennial, spreading mainly by seed. Germination of seeds is almost completely restricted to the spring. A basal rosette of leaves forms in the summer and the autumn; the size of the rosette determines further development. Those larger than 30 cm in diameter bolt and flower from May to July of the following year. The inflorescence has up to 23 red-purple flowers. An individual plant can produce up to 4000 large seeds (burs) covered with barbed spines. The spines aid in dispersal by animals, and are a source of annoyance for wildlife and livestock, which get the burs caught in their hair and fur. Seeds and plant material are toxic to livestock.
Biological Control Agents
References
Cranston, R., D. Ralph and B. Wikeem. 2005. Field guide to noxious and other selectedweeds of British Columbia. Gov. of BC. 94 p.
Powell, G. W., A. Sturko, B. Wikeem and P. Harris. 1994.
Field guide to the biological control of weeds in British Columbia.
B.C. Min. For. Res. Prog.
|
