Field Guide to Noxious and Other Selected Weeds of British Columbia

Hound's-Tongue
(Cynoglossum officinale)

Photo courtesy BC Ministry of Forests

Rosette

Provincial Noxious Weed
biennial taprooted weed growing 0.5 to 1.2 metres tall; soft, hairy rosette leaves (7 to 30 cm long) produced in first year resemble the shape of a dog's tongue; stem leaves are shorter and stalkless; dull reddish-purple flowers bear 4 rounded triangular nutlets (seeds) that are covered with hooked prickles
easily spread by seed attachment to clothing and animals
contains toxic alkaloids that can cause liver damage in grazing animals
well adapted to forested areas, roadsides and meadows

	Each flower produces 4 burred nutlets (seeds)
	Seeds easily attach to passing animals

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