Myosotis scorpioides[3] (syn. Myosotis palustris), the true forget-me-not or water forget-me-not, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae.
Distribution and habitat
It is native to Europe and Asia, but is widely distributed elsewhere, including much of North America, as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed. The plant is common and widespread in Britain, however is very rare in Jersey.[4]
The plant is usually found in damp or wet habitats, such as bogs, ponds, streams, ditches, fen and rivers.[5] Whilst it favours wet ground, it can survive submerged in water, and often can form floating rafts.[5]
Description
It is an erect to ascending plant of up to 70 cm, bearing small (8-12 mm) flowers pink in bud, becoming blue when fully open, with yellow centers and white honey guides. The plant is distinguished by its long style. The leaves are oblong to linear and pubescent on both sides. It blooms from mid-spring to first frost in temperate climates.[6][4]
Myosotis scorpioides is also known as scorpion grass due to the spiraling curve of its inflorescence on scorpioid cymes.
Gallery
-
Whole plant -
Flowers -
Leaves -
Plate 487 from Thomé's Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz (1885)
References
- ^ NatureServe (2023). "Myosotis scorpioides". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "Myosotis scorpioides subsp. scorpioides". Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- ^ "Myosotis scorpioides L. — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ a b Stace, Clive (2005). New flora of the British Isles. Cambridge Univ. Pr. ISBN 0521589355. OCLC 315524731.
- ^ a b "Myosotis scorpioides (Water Forget-me-not) | Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora". www.brc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Water Forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpioides - Flowers - NatureGate". www.luontoportti.com. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
Recent Comments