Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 41 1775. (Syn: Cynoglossum abyssinicum Hochst. ex Engl.; Cynoglossum canescens Willd.; Cynoglossum formosanum Nakai; Cynoglossum formosanum f. albiflorum Masam.; Cynoglossum hirsutum Thunb.; Cynoglossum hispidum Jacq. ex Roem. & Schult. [Invalid]; Cynoglossum lanceolatum f. albiflorum (Masam.) Yonek.; Cynoglossum micranthum Poir.; Cynoglossum micranthum Desf.; Cynoglossum platyphyllum Klotzsch; Cynoglossum racemosum Roxb.; Echinospermum paniculatum E.Mey. ex A.DC.; Paracynoglossum lanceolatum (Forssk.) R.R.Mill (Unresolved)); . South Africa (Limpopo, North-West Prov., Gauteng, Mpulamanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, W-Cape Prov., E-Cape Prov.), Lesotho, Swaziland, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Bioko Isl. (Fernando Poo), Togo, Congo (Brazzaville), Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Benin, Madagascar, Taiwan, Java, China (Fujian, S-Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Taiwan, Cambodia, N-India, Bangladesh, Jammu & Kashmir (Poonch, Kashmir, Dras), Laos, Vietnam, peninsular Malaysia, Bhutan, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Nepal, Pakistan (Kurram, Chitral, Pakistani Punjab, Swat), Pakistani Kashmir (Gilgit, Baltistan), Philippines (Luzon), ?Sri Lanka, N-Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, Saudi Arabia (Asir), Yemen (N-Inner Yemen, W-Yemen), Afghanistan (Kunar / Nuristan), Myanmar [Burma] (Bago, Chin, Shan) as per Catalogue of Life; . Cynoglossum zeylanicum looks similar to C. lanceolatum (flowers 2-2.5 mm across) but easily differentiated by larger (4-5 mm across) flowers. Also leaves are short-appressed hairy and not with long bulbous-based hairs. .
Cynoglossum lanceolatum from Morni hills:         Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 41. 1775. Syn: C. micranthum Desf. The species is quite distinct in its pale blue or white much smaller flowers hardly 2-2.5 mm across, lanceolate leaves, covered both with bulbous based hairs and simple hairs and uniformly bristly nutlets. In closely related C. zeylanicum (syn: C. furcatum Wall. ex Roxb.) flowers are larger (5-6 mm across) and leaves covered with soft appressed hairs. Photographed from near Tapiana Sahib Gurdwara in Sialkot near Baramulla in July I have a feeling that plant depicted on FOI as C. zeylonicum may in fact be Myosotis sp and not a cynnoglossum as nutlets in lowers old flowers seem to be totally hidden. I think you are going to show a full series on Cynoglossum Also
Kalatope id Al151211: Location Kalatope, Chamba Altitude 1800 mts Habit herb Habitat wild Height 18 inches Cynoglossum lanceolatum       Boraginaceae sp- FMN-3—- near Joshimath: Another Boraginaceae sp- FMN-3 seen near Joshimath. Date/Time: 06-09-2012 / 11:15AM I hope Cynoglossum lanceolatum
Cynoglossum sp. ABJUN01/18 : 9 posts by 3 authors. This hairy shrub is growing near my home. I remember having difficulty last year in separating Cynoglossum species which are well-represented here. Is this a Cynoglossum species or a Hackelia sp. (how do we tell the difference)? Could we have an ID with these pictures without nutlets? Please advise. Superb macros!!! Cynoglossum species in eFloraofindia (with details/ keys from published papers/ regional floras/ FRLHT/ FOI/ Biotik/ efloras/ books etc., where ever available on net) Seems to be Cynoglossum laceolatum Excellent details and beautiful clicks, …
Cynoglossum lanceolatum ABJUL01/03 : 2 posts by 2 authors. 8 images. Another Cynoglossum is coming out with very tiny white flowers. The rough hairy leaves look like those of C. lanceolatum. Please advise. Cynoglossum sp. Mcleodganj and above, Dharamshala, HP 1750, 1800m 30 June, 2016. Thanks, …, for the beautiful images. I think it matches with images at Cynoglossum lanceolatum
VOF Week: Boraginacee herb for id from the highway: 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (5) This Borage was shot from the highway leading to Josimath from Rishikesh…id please…can be Cynoglossum sp. Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. as per images herein.
My Pending Identifications: Chakrata- Boraginaceae Unid:: NS MARCH 25: 6 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (5). Please suggest identification for this Boraginaceae member from Chakrata… August 2013.. May be Cynoglossum glochidiatum I think it should be Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. as per images herein. To me images seem to be of Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
Kalatope id al270611: Attachments (2) A flower for your perusal….. Location Kalatope, Chamba Altitude, 2100 mts Habit herb Habitat wild Plant height 2 feet Sorry the photos did not turn out well.. 🙁 Cynoglossum sp ? Family: Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae Week: Myosotis? for ID from Kashmir: 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (3) Photographed from Sonamarg Kashmir. Initially thought of Myosotis sylvatica, but have doubts now. Please give your opinion. Hope this is a species of Myosotis too. Photographed from Srinagar Appears close to Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. . Boraginaceae Week: Cynoglossum lanceolatum from Kashmir: Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 41. 1775. Syn: C. micranthum Desf. The species is quite distinct in its pale blue or white much smaller flowers hardly 2-2.5 mm across, lanceolate leaves, covered both with bulbous based hairs and simple hairs and uniformly bristly nutlets In closely related C. zeylanicum (syn: C. furcatum Wall. ex Roxb.) flowers are larger (5-6 mm across) and leaves covered with soft appressed hairs.Photographed from near Tapiana Sahib Gurdwara in Sialkot near Baramulla in July Place: Koraigad, Lonavala Time: October 8, 2011 at 8.58am Habit: herb Habitat: moist deciduous forest Plant height: about a metre high Flower: about 2 – 3 mm I think the id is correct. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200018962 I think corolla size is crucial. In C. lanceolatum flowers are barely 2-2.5 mm across, where as they are almost twice in diam. in C. zeylanicum. Also hairs on leaves are shorter and without broad bases in C. zeylanicum. Many thanks … your posts on both C. (lanceolatum and zeylanicum) helped me put my ID query. There are with me, few plants which have very small flowers (just about 2 – 2.5 mm), and the fruiting is 4 ¿ nutlets ? per flower. Above posted plant has flowers about 2.5 mm. I understand there is larger flowered plant – I have them too. Will post query soon.
VOF Week: Boraginaceae Herb for id 3: Yes … it is Cynoglossum lanceolatum I think yes Yes, I think the flower size was below 3 mm in diameter..
Location Pangi valley and Upper Chamba I hope Cynoglossum lanceolatum
IDENTITY : 37/37a : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attaching two images of a way side plant with tiny pale blue flowers. The flowers are visited by quite a number of butterfly species. Can any friend help me to identify this plant? It has been identified correctly by … as Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
SYMBIOSIS : 579 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1). Attaching an image of a Bath White butterfly on the flowers of Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
SYMBIOSIS : 580 : 2 posts by 1 author. Attaching an image of a Psyche butterfly on the flowers of Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
SYMBIOSIS : 582 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1). Attaching an image of Green-veined White butterfly on the flowers of Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
SYMBIOSIS : 588 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1). Attaching an image of a Plain Tiger butterfly on the flowers of Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
SYMBIOSIS : 596 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1). Attaching an image of a Forget Me Not butterfly on the flowers of Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
SYMBIOSIS :600 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1).
Unknown herb from Assam : 11 posts by 8 authors. Attachments (7). Attached images are unknown herb from Assam. Please ID the sp. Date :17.06.2014 Location: Assam Family : ?? Genus & species : ?? Habitat: Grows wild on roadside Habit :Herb Cynoglossum is the most probable I D This is from Boraginaceae… Thank you very much Sir for ID. I think my species match with Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk.(/species/a—l/b/boraginaceae/cynoglossum/cynoglossum-lanceolatum). Please validate. Can be Cynoglossum furcatum – a weed of the waste places Seems to be Cynoglossum lanceolatum. first three photographs are Adelocaryum spp because the flowers are entirely different while as other four photographs are Adelocaryum coelestinum because there flowers are blue and have different morphology. Thank you all for Your ID of the plant. Here I want to inform you that all the images are taken from the same plant, same locality. I do not think that they are two different species. One interesting characters is that herb is bushy in nature, flower are too small. Looks like Cynoglossum wallichii http://www.robsplants.com/plants/CynogWalli or something closely related Adelocaryum I think has much broader and less hairy leaves. To me they all look from the same plant and Cynoglossum lanceolatum. Here are my uploads Also compare with C. glochidiatum in which flowers are larger (5-6 mm) flowers, nutlets with barbs mainly along margin, centre depressed efi thread In C. lanceolatum flowers are smaller (around 3 mm), pale blue to nearly white in lobes part, and nutlets with barbs on whole surface, centre raised.     Another Cynoglossum ABJUL01/26 : 7 posts by 2 authors. 4 images. This Cynoglossum species is with smaller flowers and leaves. The stems carrying the flowers are covered in white hair. I thought it was C. furcatum but am not so sure. Please advise. Above Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, HP 1800m 28 July 2015   I am now of the opinion that this could be Cynoglossum lanceolatum. It has tiny flowers, smaller hairy leaves and nutlets arranged in a row (rather than zigzag as in other Cynoglossum sp. I have photographed). Please advise. Some new pictures of the same individual plant; 1 image. Leaf comparison with C. wallichii. 2 images. To me it seems to be Cynoglossum lanceolatum.
SK1388 28 AUG 2018 : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (6) Location: Suryabinayak, Nepal Date: 29 July 2018 Elevation:5000 ft. Habit : Wild Which Cynoglossum ..?? Pl. check comparative images at Thank you …! Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forskál Nepali name : कुरो Kuro     Boraginaceae-3 for ID :: Hemkund – Ghangaria, Uttarakhand :: Aug 2018 :: ARKNOV-07 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (4) Saw this Boraginaceae member along the Hemkund – Ghangaria trail, Uttarakhand in Aug 2018. Requested to please provide ID Please check comparative images at Closest I can go as per comparative images at Cynoglossum is Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk.
Plant ID from Bangladesh SM142 : 5 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (1). Habit: Herb Habitat: Wild Location: Rajshashi Flowering: June Looks like a Boraginaceae…too novel to me…. Cyanoglossum Sp? Seems to be Cynoglossum sp.              Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forskál (accepted name) ??? : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (13) Location: Nagarkot, Nepal Date : 31 March 2017 Altitude : 5500 ft. Lack of veins on the leaves & dense hairs on them make me feel that these are more closer to images at Cynoglossum zeylanicum (Lehm.) Brand (I think more widely distributed & with variable leaves). On further consideration, I feel it is Cynoglossum lanceolatum only. Leaves are with bulbous hairs and veins are covered with these hairs. On closer scrutiny, these (veins) can be observed. .  MS, July, 2021/05 Cynoglossum sp.for id.: 1 image. Location : Sailam area Date : 20-06-2011 Habit : Erect Herb Habitat : Wild Isn’t it Cynoglossum zeylanicum, What are the species reported from your area?
I agree with … I can not see any details. Pl. post a high res. image. Maybe Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. also.
Yes, Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. only. . Request for plant id: 2 high res. images. Is it Cynoglossum lanceolatum? Need confirmation from experts. I guess the correct ID ! .
Altitude : ca.1,430 m. Date : 11-01-2023 Habit : Herb Habitat : Wild Cynoglossum zeylanicum (Sw. ex Lehm.) Thunb. ex Brand Any keys ?
Yes. It is . MS,Jan.,2023/25 Cynoglossum sp. for id.: 1 image. Altitude : ca.1,250 m. Date : 14-05-2016 Habit : Herb Habitat : Wild Pl. post a high res. image to check the details. 1 high res. images. This is / MS, june,2023/06 Cynoglossum sp. for id: 1 image. Altitude : ca.1,500 m. Date : 30-05-2023 Habit : Herb Habitat : Wild Cynoglossum lanceolatum ? I guess yes ! . Kindly help identify the plant: 1 image. Kindly help identify the plant which I found growing by the side of a road in Rawathpora Srinagar Kashmir. Google image search turned up Lithospermum erythrorhizon but I don’t think it has ever been reported from Srinagar. I will have to wait for it to flower but am afraid someone may destroy it before it flowers so I am posting a photo for record. Image is so blurred. Cynoglossum, possibly lanceolatum. Some more photos, 1 image. Looks like but images are not crisp. It gets blurred when trying to zoom. One more photo Leaves have long and short trichomes with tuberculate bases, Tiny flowers and corolla with about 0.8 mm lobes and light blue throat I think photo of inflorescence rules out C.lanceolatum and all species with scorpid cyme inflorescence. Would request opinion of experts 2 images. Photo of trichomes (X15) 1 image. Pls check Cynoglossum zeylanicum (Sw. ex Lehm.) Thunb. ex Brand. According to Kazmi in C.zeylanicum trichomes are ” upto 0.2 mm long not arising from conspicuous tubercular bases” . In my photo you can see that trichomes arise from very conspicuous tubercular bases. Further he mentions ” Corolla blue, infundubiliform 5 mm long limbs 8-9 mm in diameter”. In this plant flowers are very tiny about 3-4mm diameter. If no one cuts the plant ( it is growing on roadside) and more flowers appear I will try to take close up pictures of flowers showing calyx also. Because of tiny flowers it may be difficult for me to dissect the flower to see the included anthers. The key points that I have noticed so far are: 1. Inflorescence is not a scorpioid cyme 2. Trichomes arise from prominent tubercular bases 3. Corolla limbs are white but throat part is blue I think I was mistaken because of small size of inflorescence. Under a magnifying glass the inflorescence appears scorpoid (See photo INFLORESCENSE X15) Wonder if it could be C.wallichii (Native of Nepal) The following points regarding it given by Kazmi seem interesting ” Inflorescence terminal or axillary, usually geminate branches divaricate, ebracteate, short scorpoid, bearing closely set flowers, much elongated after flowering, pedicils none to very short in flower..upto 3mm in fruit, ..Corolla pale to deep blue, campanulate, 3.5-4mm long, tube equalling the calyx, limbs equalling the tube , divided nearly to the base, lobes rounded, faucal appendages subquadrate, slightly emarginate..” 5 images One more photo of plant with a plastic scale for comparison It now seems very probable to me that it isC.wallichii var. wallichii considering the 1-1.5 mm long rounded corolla lobes. I am specifically mentioning var wallichii because according to Kazimi it is found among other places in Kashmir in ” .. environs of Srinagar within a circle of 8 miles Schlagintweit 4503(US) 4237 (GH) ..” Some more photos: Photo 1: Flower seen from above ( X 15). Subquadrate (rectangular), slightly emarginate(notched) faucal appendages with 5 anthers( 0.2-0.3mm broad} just below and between them. small square =1mm square Photo 2: Same flower at X50 magnification. The stigma can also be seen. It is very interesting that style is very short or perhaps absent. Kazmi in his description has omitted mention of style perhaps because it is not easily visible. I am not sure and would have to examine more flowers Photo 3 : Faucal appendages (50X) Photo 4: Faucal appendages (X50). I think puberlent as reported for C. wallichii All photos taken on 2/Aug/2025 All photos under CC licence(Attribution only required) 4 images. One more photo: Anther at X50 magnification. Stigma with papillae is also visible 1 image. … pl show nutlets, it will confirm Thanks for your kind interest I too am waiting for the nutlets to form If no one destroys the plant which is growing on the roadside I think they will form in a few weeks. They will certainly I hope end speculation Some photos of fruit and an unripe nutlet. Hope they help in final ID 6 images. Seems C.lanceolatum as … also suggested previously Photo showing reddish stigma at the tip of a very short style between and below the nutlets in fruit 1 image Photo of anthers about 0.3mm long and half as broad attached by very short filaments at the middle of the corolla tube It should be ” ANTHERS (X 15)” and “above the middle of the corolla tube” not “at the middle” Photo of pollen grains Small spherical sticky pollen grains at X675 magnification . References: |
Cynoglossum lanceolatum
Updated on August 18, 2025