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Myosotis scorpioides (syn. Myosotis palustris), the true forget-me-not or water forget-me-not, is a forget-me-not plant species in the borage family, Boraginaceae.
Distribution and habitat
This herbaceous perennial plant 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.: 596
The plant is usually found in damp or wet habitats, such as bogs, ponds, streams, ditches, fen and rivers. Whilst it favours wet ground, it can survive submerged in water, and often can form floating rafts.
Description
It is an erect to ascending plant of up to 70 cm (28 in), 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.
Myosotis scorpioides is also known as water scorpion grass due to the spiraling curve of its inflorescence in the form of a scorpioid cyme. Its corolla is tubular, nectar collected at the base is sucked by pollinating animals like insects and small birds.
Historical and cultural impact
According to an old European legend, the flower got its name from an incident where a knight and his betrothed where walking along the water when they spotted the flowers. The lady expressed her wish to have one of the beautiful flowers and the knight went to carry out his beloved's wish. But as the knight reached for them the knight fell into the water he grasped at the flowers growing along the waters edge and as he drowned he called out "Forget me not!"
The flower is the province flower of Dalsland since 1908.
Gallery
References
External links
- "Myosotis scorpioides L., Jepson Interchange". Jepson Flora Project. Berkeley, CA: The Regents of the University of California. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- "Myosotis scorpioides". ct-botanical-society.org. New Haven, CT: Connecticut Botanical Society. 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- "Myosotis scorpioides". CalPhotos. Berkely, CA: Berkeley Natural History Museums. Retrieved 26 June 2025.