  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.
British Columbia 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.
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