Foothills, montane. Fields, openings. Summer.
Lake Haviland Trail, June 28, 2004.

This tall, clumpy, alien plant grows in meadows and disturbed areas.  It spreads easily and you will find many of its long, narrow, pointed, upward pointing clusters of leaves dotting infected areas.  Flowers are numerous, blue/red, and small.  The plant produces an abundance of almost quarter inch, flattened, round seeds that are Velcro-like in their ability to cling -- to your socks, your dog's hair, etc.  The plant is toxic and can cause liver failure in horses and cattle; it is obviously, therefore, also not a favorite of ranchers. It is on a number of state's noxious weed lists.

"Cynoglossum", Greek for "dog's tongue", was given for the resemblance (in someone's view) of the long, narrow, textured leaves to a dog's tongue. "Officinale" indicates that the plant was or is sold as a herb, i.e., an "officially" accepted food or medicinal herb (according to someone at sometime!).

Foothills, montane. Fields, openings. Summer.
Lake Haviland Trail, June 28, 2004.