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]