Cynoglossum officinale
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| Cynoglossum officinale L. |
Cynoglossum officinale [1][2] (houndstongue, dog's tongue, gypsy flower, and rats and mice due to its smell ) is a herbaceous plant of the family Boraginaceae, found in most parts of Europe, and also North America where it was accidentally introduced.[1] It can be either annual or biennial, with reddish-purple flowers blooming between May and September. It lives in wet places, waste land and hedges.
Folklore
The name houndstongue comes from the belief that it could, if a leaf was worn in the shoe, ward off dog attacks.
Herbalism
Herbalists use the plant as a treatment for piles, lung diseases and persistent coughs. Houndstongue ointment is said to cure baldness, and can be used for sores and ulcers. Not all of these uses are supported by scientific evidence.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Template:ITIS
- ↑ Cynoglossum officinale at USDA PLANTS Database
- ↑ Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies (Century, 1987); p.161
References
- Blanchan, Neltje (2002). Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Check date values in:
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