northern wild comfrey

(Andersonglossum boreale)

Conservation Status
northern wild comfrey
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N3N4 - Vulnerable to Apparently Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Northern wild comfrey is a 16 to 32 tall, erect, perennial forb that rises on a single stem from a taproot.

One to six (sometimes more) basal leaves arise from the ground on long leaf stalks forming a rosette. They are 4 to 8 long, 1 to 2¾ wide, elliptic to oblong, and covered with short, soft hairs.

A single, unbranched stem rises from the center of the rosette. It is covered with short hairs and is rough to the touch. There are leaves only on the lower half of the stem.

The stem leaves are alternate and untoothed. The leaves are on leaf stalks, which become progressively shorter as they ascend the stem. The upper leaves are attached to the stem without leaf stalks, and may clasp the stem. Most of the leaves are on the lower half of the stem. The leaves become progressively smaller as they ascend the stem.

The inflorescence is 1 to 4 (usually 3) elongated, flower stalks (racemes) branching at the end of a stalk that terminates the central stem. The flower stalks are 4 to 8 long at maturity, and have no leaves or bracts.

The flowers are ¼ to wide and have 5 light blue petals. The petals are fused at the base into a short, funnel-shaped tube. The tips are oblong and do not overlap.

The fruit consists of 4 nutlets, each long, covered with short, barbed prickles.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

16 to 32

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Light blue

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) has leaves along the entire length of the stem. The inflorescence is many raceme-like, crowded clusters rising from the upper leaf axils. The flowers are maroon or red.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry to moderate moisture. Fields, meadows, woods openings as well as under full canopy.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

May to June

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 28, 29, 30.

 
  5/1/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Asteranae  
 

Order

Boraginales (borages)  
 

Family

Boraginaceae (borage)  
  Subfamily Cynoglossoideae  
  Tribe Cynoglosseae  
 

Genus

Cynoglossum (hound’s tongues)  
       
 

This species was originally described in 1905 as Cynoglossum boreale. It was later treated as a subspecies of Cynoglossum virginianum. In 2015 it was transferred to the genus Andersonglossum. In 2017 it was raised to full species status. Three names are currently in use, Cynoglossum boreale, Cynoglossum virginianum var. boreale, and Andersonglossum boreale, but most sources use the latter name.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Andersonglossum virginianum var. boreale

Cynoglossum boreale

Cynoglossum virginianum var. boreale

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

blue houndstongue

hound’s tooth

northern wild comfrey

wild comfrey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Bract

Modified leaf at the base of a flower stalk, flower cluster, or inflorescence.

 

Clasping

Describing a leaf that wholly or partly surrounds the stem but does not fuse at the base.

 

Oblong

Two to four times longer than wide with nearly parallel sides.

 

Raceme

An unbranched, elongated inflorescence with stalked flowers. The flowers mature from the bottom up.

 
 
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Plant

 
    northern wild comfrey   northern wild comfrey  
           
 

Inflorescence

 
    northern wild comfrey   northern wild comfrey  
           
 

Infructescence

 
    northern wild comfrey      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Plant portrait - Wild comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum)
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About

Published on May 26, 2013

A detailed look at the life cycle of Wild comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum). These images can help to accurately identify the plant during different seasons of the year.

 

 

slideshow

       
 
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