Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Section: Common Name: Scientific Name: Family:
Account for Wild Comfrey - Andersonglossum virginianum   (L.) J.I. Cohen
Members of Boraginaceae:
Only member of Andersonglossum in NC.
Google Images
Section 6 » Family Boraginaceae
Show/Hide Synonym
Author(L.) J.I. Cohen
DistributionThroughout the Mountains and Piedmont; shortly disjunct to the Coastal Plain in Bladen County.

This is an Eastern species ranging from CT and MO south to northern FL and eastern TX. It is scarce in the Coastal Plains.
AbundanceFairly common to frequent in the Mountains and Piedmont. Very rare in the Coastal Plain, there in brownwater river floodplain (Cape Fear). The State Rank of S3 assigned by the NCNHP is very conservative, and it certainly merits a rank of S4 or S4S5.
HabitatThis is a species of mesic to rich hardwood forests, usually on slopes. It is not typically found in overly rich sites such as Basic Mesic Forests or Rich Cove Forests, but more often in Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forests, various oak forests, and other fairly moist forested habitats.
PhenologyBlooms from April to June, and fruits shortly after flowering.
IdentificationThis is a reasonably familiar spring wildflower, truly dissimilar to any other species. It has a fairly tall, unbranched stem to about 1.5-2 feet tall. Quite striking are the very large basal leaves, which are elliptical, about 6 inches long and 2-3 inches wide, entire, with long petioles. There are a few lower stem leaves that are smaller, elliptical, but strongly clasping at the base. At the top of the stem is a branched flower cluster, each branch 1-2 inches long. The flowers are light blue ("Carolina blue"), flattened, with 5 rounded lobes, and a spread about 1/3-inch across. On the forest floor in spring, light blue flowers are not often seen, and with the very large leaves, it is quite hard to overlook a stand of these plants.
Taxonomic CommentsMost references, and all older ones, name the species as Cynoglossum virginianum. There are just two species in the genus Andersonglossum.

Other Common Name(s)Hound's-tongue, Eastern Wild Comfrey
State RankS3 [S4]
Global RankG5
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
Photo Gallery
photographercommentsphoto_linkcountyobsType
B.A. SorriePee Dee NWR, trail to Gaddy Covered Bridge, mesic soil. 11 Apr 2007. AnsonPhoto_natural
Select a source
AllHerbaria
Individual
Website
Select an occurrence type
AllCollection_naturalLiterature_naturalPhoto_naturalSight_natural