Cynoglossum
(from kyon, kunos, a dog, and glossa, a tongue; in allusion to the form of the leaves of most species). Hound's Tongue. ORD. Boragineae. Tall, robust, downy biennials or perennials, soft to the touch. Racemes usually bractless, secund, terminal, simple, bifid, or twin; corolla funnel-shaped or sub-rotate; throat closed by prominent scales. Leaves large, broadest at top. All the species are coarse-growing, but the flowers of some are very pretty. For culture, see Dipsacus.
C. cheirifolium (Wallflower-leaved). fl., corolla rose-coloured, processes of the throat deep red; racemes bracteate, terminal, simple. June and July. l. lanceolate, obtuse, tomentose, hoary. h. 6in. to 12in. South Europe, 1596. Biennial.
C. Dioscoridis (Dioscorides'). fl., corolla red or flesh-coloured, with deeper veins; racemes elongated, bractless, loose, usually terminal. June. l. narrow-lanceolate, acuminated, dilated at the base, rather hispid. h. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. South-west Europe, 1820. Biennial.
C. officinale (officinal). fl., corolla reddish; processes of the throat purple; racemes bractless, panicled at the time the flowers are open, terminating the branches and stem. June. l., lower ones broad-lanceolate; superior ones broadest at the base, acute, canescent from downy tomentum. h. 2ft. Europe (Britain). Biennial.
C. o. bicolor (two-coloured). fl., corolla white, with the processes in the throat red, and the limb marked with five red spots. l. lanceolate, narrowed at the base, downy; upper ones sessile cordate. Germany. Biennial. C. pictum (painted). fl., corolla purple or blue, elegantly marked with deeper-coloured, dichotomous veins, which are branched at top; racemes bractless. August. l. lanceolate, acute; upper ones ovate-lanceolate, cordate, finely tomentose. Stem bluntly angular. h. 2ft. South Europe, 1658. Biennial. (B. M. 2134.) C. virginicum (Virginian). fl., corolla pale blue; racemes bractless. July. l., lower ones somewhat spathulate-lanceolate; superior ones clasping by a deep heart-shaped base, lanceolate-oblong, acute; smoothish above and shining, but scabrous beneath. h. 2ft. to 5ft. United States. Perennial.