Chinese Hound's-tongue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Hound's-tongue
• Chinese hound's-toungue
• Chinese-forget-me-not
• Chinese forget-me-not
• Purple Hounds Tongue
• Chinese hound's tongue

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cynoglossum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and climatic zones. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the regions of Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence extends into Middle Europe, where it is documented in both Austria and Germany. Furthermore, the species reaches much warmer climates in East Tropical Africa, specifically in Kenya. This wide-ranging habitat demonstrates the plant's ability to adapt to various environmental conditions.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cynoglossum amabile is characterized by a broad and diverse altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level to extreme high-altitude environments. It occupies habitats ranging from coastal regions to mountainous terrains, exhibiting a remarkable adaptability to varying topographical conditions. The species shows a significant elevational range, with a minimum altitude of 0 m AMSL and a maximum recorded elevation of 4565 m AMSL. This wide vertical gradient results in a mean elevation of approximately 3004 m AMSL, suggesting that while the plant is capable of thriving in maritime coastal ecosystems, it is frequently found in high-elevation montane niches.

Elevational range max:

4565 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3004 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Genetics

The genetics of Cynoglossum amabile are characterized by a specific chromosomal constitution that serves as a fundamental cytogenetic marker for the species. Scientific analysis of its cellular structure reveals a diploid chromosome number of 24. This chromosomal count plays a critical role in the plant's reproductive biology, determining its patterns of inheritance, meiotic stability, and the potential for genetic variation within populations. Such genomic data is essential for understanding the evolutionary lineage of the species and provides a baseline for studies involving hybridization, polyploidy, or genetic engineering aimed at enhancing its medicinal properties.

Chromosome number :

24

Life history

The life history of Cynoglossum amabile is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions primarily as a therophyte, completing its life cycle through a temporary period of growth before potentially retreating to a dormant stage. This life form is consistent across its developmental classifications, whether categorized under its broader biological role or its specific structural designation as a therophyte. Additionally, the plant exhibits deciduousness, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cynoglossum amabile is characterized by a growth form categorized as both a herb and a forb, displaying a non-woody structure. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.3875 m. Furthermore, its growth habit is described as self-supporting, as it does not exhibit the climbing characteristics of a vine or liana.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.3875 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cynoglossum amabile is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliage and specific metabolic properties. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional diversity, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, while maintaining a mean leaf length of 4.5 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 3 cm. From a nutritional and metabolic standpoint, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form.

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cynoglossum amabile is characterized by a reliance on biotic processes, specifically utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome. There is no evidence of asexual reproduction, as this trait is documented as absent, meaning the plant depends on sexual reproduction for propagation. The resulting fruits are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.35 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.25 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a highly consistent morphology, maintaining a uniform seed length of 4 mm (with no variation between minimum and maximum values) and a constant seed mass of 0.00567 g. Regarding the movement of offspring, the plant employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, indicating that it does not rely on a specific specialized mechanism for seed distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit length min:

0.25 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.00567 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cynoglossum amabile has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Root

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Chemicals

Cynoglossum amabile has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amabiline, Ambelline, EUROPINE, Echinatine, PAS.

Amabiline

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Ambelline

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

EUROPINE

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Echinatine

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

PAS

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Sterols

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Activities

Cynoglossum amabile has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Carcinogenic, Hepatotoxic.

Carcinogenic

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Hepatotoxic

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Medicinal Uses

Cynoglossum amabile has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include alopecia, dysentery, hepatitis, joint dislocation, malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations