NOXIOUS WEED
CO

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, everything.  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 noxious weed lists in a number of states.

"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 sold as a medicinal herb in an "office", a former Latin term for an apothecary, a pharmacy.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Cynoglossum officinale