Cynoglossum officinale
Hound's Tongue
a biennial or perennial member of the Cynoglossum genus in the family Boraginaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Cynoglossum
- Life cycle
- biennial, perennial
- Height
- 0.8 m
- Spread
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Houndstongue contains alkaloids that can cause cancer when the plant is consumed in large quantities[11]. The plant is also said to be slightly poisonous[7], there are no reported cases of human poisoning but there are some cases of cattle being poisoned[18]. The plant has a disagreeable odour and taste so is seldom eaten by animals[8]. Contact with the plant can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[10].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - raw or cooked[15][16][2][4][5]. A disagreeable odour and taste[8]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Hound's tongue has a long history of use as a medicinal herb, though it is rarely used in modern herbalism[17][13]. The leaves contain allantoin, a highly effective agent that speeds up the healing process in the body[238, K]. Caution should be applied, however, since narcotic effects result from large doses taken internally[17] and the plant is potentially carcinogenic[10] (though it has also been used in the treatment of cancer[9]). The leaves and roots are analgesic, antihaemorrhoidal, antispasmodic, astringent, digestive, emollient and slightly narcotic[14][17][19][7][15][10]. The plant contains the alkaloids cynoglossine and consolidin, which are used medicinally to relieve pain[8]. They depress the central nervous system and are also potentially carcinogenic[10]. The plant has been used internally in the treatment of coughs and diarrhoea, though it is now mainly used externally as a poultice on piles, wounds, minor injuries, bites and ulcers[10][11]. The root is harvested at the end of spring of the plants second year[17]. Another report says that it is best harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[11]. The leaves and flowering shoots are harvested as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[11]. The plant has a wide antitumour reputation for cancers of various types[9]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots[17]. It is very effective in the treatment of insomnia[17].
- Product or use
- Analgesic
- Product or use
- Antihaemorrhoidal
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Cancer
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Emollient
- Product or use
- Narcotic
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, though absent from the extreme north and rare in south, east to Asia.
- Habitat
- Dry grassy areas and the edges of woods, often near the sea, on sand, gravel, chalk or limestone soils[17][3][12].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow in situ in early summer. The seed can be sown in spring or autumn, a period of cold stratification improves germination.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers sandy, gravelly and basic soils[3]. Grows well in an ordinary well-drained soil[1]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[11]. The flowers are an absolute magnet for bees[K]. The plant smells of mice[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2