Houndstongue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hound's-tongue
• Common Houndstongue
• gypsy-flower
• hound’s-tongue
• rats-and-mice

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cynoglossum officinale var. bicolor
• Cynoglossum officinale var. hybridum
• Cynoglossum officinale var. eglochidiatum
• Cynoglossum officinale var. scabrifolia
• Cynoglossum officinale var. subglabrum
• Cynoglossum officinale f. paucisetum
• Cynoglossum paucisetum
• Cynoglossum ruderale
• Cynoglossum hybridum
• Cynoglossum bicolor
• Cynoglossum castellanum
• Cynoglossum vulgare
• Cynoglossum officinale var. albiflorum
• Cynoglossum officinale var. angustifolium
• Cynoglossum officinale var. areolatum
• Cynoglossum officinale f. bicolor
• Cynoglossum officinale subvar. bicolor
• Cynoglossum officinale var. canescens
• Cynoglossum officinale var. collinum
• Cynoglossum officinale var. corsicum
• Cynoglossum officinale dentatum
• Cynoglossum officinale var. glochidiatum
• Cynoglossum bracteolatum
• Cynoglossum officinale f. viride
• Cynoglossum suavifolium
• Cynoglossum officinale var. scabrifolium
• Cynoglossum officinale var. sempervirens
• Cynoglossum nebrodense var. areolatum
• Cynoglossum officinale f. hybridum
• Cynoglossum officinale macranthum
• Cynoglossum officinale micranthum
• Cynoglossum officinale micranthum
• Cynoglossum officinale microcarpum
• Cynoglossum officinale var. album

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cynoglossum, which includes the medicinal species Cynoglossum officinale.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Cynoglossum officinale, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Its distribution can be observed within the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Furthermore, the species is documented to grow in the northern landscapes of Finland. It also finds suitable habitats throughout the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, the plant completes this geographical pattern by being found in Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cynoglossum officinale is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to disturbed and open environments, allowing it to colonize a diverse range of landscapes. It is frequently found thriving in anthropogenic habitats such as cropfields and oldfields, where soil disturbance facilitates its establishment. Furthermore, the species demonstrates significant resilience to arid conditions, appearing in desert regions, and can also be integrated into managed green spaces like parks. This wide ecological amplitude enables the plant to persist in varied soil types and moisture regimes, often acting as a pioneer species in areas where vegetation has been cleared or modified by human activity.

Habitat :

cropfields,desert,oldfields,parks

Life history

The life history of Cynoglossum officinale is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, typically completing its developmental stages over a two-year period. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, allowing it to persist through unfavorable environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cynoglossum officinale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions independently, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of its stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing structures, maintaining a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.442 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.442 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cynoglossum officinale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, it maintains a mean leaf size of approximately 31.73667 cm², contributing to its overall canopy structure. Furthermore, its leaf architecture is defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 223.97 cm²/g, a parameter that reflects the relationship between its leaf area and dry mass, indicating its capacity for light interception and resource allocation within its environment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

31.73667 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

223.97 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cynoglossum officinale is characterized by a primarily sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The plant follows a monocarpic life cycle, meaning it flowers once before completing its life cycle. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in July. During this stage, the plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects, with bees identified as a key pollinator. Self-fertilization is absent, necessitating these external biotic agents for successful fertilization. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.028581091 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.02184 g to a maximum of 0.03977 g. Seed dispersal follows a zoochorous pattern, specifically through epizoochory, where seeds are dispersed by attaching to animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.03977 g

Seed mass mean:

0.028581091 g

Seed mass min:

0.02184 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Cynoglossum officinale has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Astringent, Sedative.

Antibacterial

1. Pharmaceutics

Astringent

1. Plant disease

Sedative

1. Plant disease

Preparations

Cynoglossum officinale has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include gallic salt cynoglossofin-geliosupin alkaloid (cyngal).

Gallic salt cynoglossofin-geliosupin alkaloid (cyngal)

1. Biulleten' eksperimental'noi biologii i meditsiny