Cynoglossum canescens Willdenow; C. hirsutum Thunberg; C. micranthum Poiret; C. racemosum Roxburgh.

Herbs perennial, 20-90 cm tall. Stems erect, branched from middle or below, densely hispid, hairs discoid at base; branches spreading. Basal and lower stem leaves petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, 8-14 × ca. 3 cm, abaxially densely pubescent, adaxially hispid and densely appressed pubescent, hairs discoid at base, base attenuate, apex acute; upper stem leaves sessile or short petiolate, lanceolate, smaller. Inflorescences terminal and axillary; branches spreading at an obtuse angle, ebracteate. Pedicel 1-1.5 mm, scarcely elongated in fruit. Calyx 1-1.5 mm; lobes ovate, densely short appressed pubescent outside, glabrous inside, slightly enlarged in fruit, apex obtuse. Corolla light blue, campanulate, 1.5-2.5 mm; throat appendages lunate; limb 2-2.5 mm wide. Anthers ovoid, ca. 0.5 mm. Style tetragonous, ca. 1 mm. Nutlets ovoid-globose, 2-2.5 mm, abaxially concave, with dense glochids, marginal glochids not confluent at base. Fl. and fr. Apr-Sep. 2n = 24.

Used medicinally.

Hills, meadows, roadsides; 300-2800 m. Fujian, S Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, N India, Kashmir, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, N Thailand; Africa, SW and W Asia]