houndstongue

(Cynoglossum officinale)

Family: Boraginaceae (mustard)

Life cycle: Biennial

During the first year this plant will produce only a rosette.  In its second year of growth this plant will bolt, go to flower and produce many seeds.  Best control will occur during the first year.

Rosette: Basal, alternate, ovate leaf with small hairs growing from the crown of a taproot

Flowers: Light red to purple

Seeds: small, 10-15 millimeters/oval shaped (resembles that of a dog’s tongue).  Hundreds of hooks like that of Velcro and sticks to clothes and hair.

Effective control methods: 

Mechanical, Chemical