Hound's+Tongue

Introduced to North America in cereal seed in 1922
 * Scientific Name:** Cynoglossum officinale
 * Common Name(s**): Hounds Tongue
 * Origin:**Native to Eurasia

 
 * Identification:**
 * biennial taprooted weed growing 0.5 to 1.2 metres tall
 *  soft, hairy rosette leaves (7 to 30 cm long)
 *  in first year resemble the shape of a dog's tongue
 *  stem leaves are shorter and stalkless
 *  dull reddish-purple flowers
 *  bears 4 rounded triangular seeds that are covered with hooked prickles
 * Characteristics:**
 * contains toxic alkaloids that can cause liver damage in grazing animals
 * easily spread by seed attachment to clothing and animals [[image:hounds_toung_seeds.jpg width="114" height="80"]]
 * thrives especially well on openings in the forest cleared by logging operations and road construction


 * Habitat:**
 * pastures, roadsides, meadows and forested areas in B.C
 * Empire Valley-Dog Creek area, the Thompson-Nicola, Okanagan-Boundary and East Kootenay regions


 * Control/ eradication recommendations**:
 * no biologic agents have yet been approved for release against hound's-tongue in North America, research is underway in Europe
 * Tordon 22K, Banvel and 2,4-D Amine. Tordon 22K applied in spring, summer or fall for chemical control


 * References:** http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/hounds.htm