ox·tongue, ox-tongue n. Bot. A widespread European weed (Picris echioides formerly Helminthia echioides) with spiny tongue-shaped leaves and yellow flowers.  The name is applied to several plants, from the shape and roughness of their leaves; as, Anchusa officinalis, a kind of bugloss, and Helminthia echioides, both European herbs.  It has been naturalized in the U. S.
  Syn: -- bristly oxtongue, prickly oxtongue, bitterweed, bugloss.
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  Al·ka·net n.
  1. Chem. A dyeing matter extracted from the roots of Alkanna tinctoria, which gives a fine deep red color.
  2. Bot. (a) A boraginaceous herb (Alkanna tinctoria) yielding the dye; orchanet. (b) The similar plant Anchusa officinalis; bugloss; also, the American puccoon.
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  Bu·gloss n.; pl. Buglosses   Bot. A plant of the genus Anchusa, and especially the Anchusa officinalis, sometimes called alkanet; oxtongue.
  Small wild bugloss, the Asperugo procumbens and the Lycopsis arvensis.
  Viper's bugloss, a species of Echium.
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  Anchusa officinalis
       n : perennial or biennial herb cultivated for its delicate
           usually blue flowers [syn: bugloss, alkanet]