Hound's tongue
Cynoglossum officinale
Family: Boraginaceae
What it is like
A small plant. It grows 0.5-1 m tall. It is covered with fine downy hairs. The lower leaves are simple and have leaf stalks. They are oblong or sword shaped and 15-30 cm long. The upper leaves are smaller and clasp the stem. The flowers are reddish-purple and small. They are 5-10 mm across. They droop in clusters. The flowers are funnel shaped. The fruit is a small prickly nut.
There are between 50 and 75 Cynoglossum species. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in dry fields and waste places. It needs moist, well-drained soil. It can grow in sun or part shade.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Germany (country/location of origin), Greece, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, North America, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The young leaves are used as a salad or cooked as a vegetable. They should only ever be eaten in small amounts. Caution: Some hesitancy has been raised about the alkaloids in this plant that can cause cancer.
Edible parts
Leaves, caution
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Bunga gipsi, Gypsy flower, Navadni pasji jezik