GAMOPETAL.E i2i 



The habit is erect. The root is long, tapering, 

 fleshy. The stem is erect, branching above, with 

 rough, appressed hairs, leafy, and very stiff and strong. 

 The radical leaves are long-stalked, long, oblong or 

 spathulate, or lingulate, the stem-leaves linear to 

 oblong or lance-shaped, stalkless, clasping, downy, 

 with soft, appressed hairs. 



The flowers are crimson or purplish-red, veined, 

 in several one-sided racemes or cymes. The flower- 

 stalks are bent back. The sepals are broadly lance- 

 shaped, blunt, enlarged in fruit. The corolla is small. 

 The border of the nutlets is thickened and they are 

 flat in front, and burr-like, ovate, with short, hooked 

 spines. 



The plant is 1-2 ft. high. It is in flower in June 

 and July, and is a herbaceous biennial. 



The flowers are not conspicuous. The honey is 

 protected above by scales which close the mouth of 

 the short tube. The stamens exceed the stigma and 

 are included. The stigma is entire or notched. The 

 foetid odour of the plant may serve to attract flies. 



The nutlets, being provided with hooks, are adapted 

 to dispersal by animal agency. 



Hound's Tongue is known also by the names Dog's 

 Tongue, Gipsy Flower, Rose Noble, Scald-head. 

 The name Rose Noble is prevalent in Cheshire. 

 The name Scald-head is applied to the plant in Suffolk. 



Cynoglossum officinale. — In Fig. 31 the habit 

 of the plant is shown, and the character of the stem-leaves, 

 the one-sided raceme, and hooked spinose fruits. 



