Myosotis sylvatica

Myosotis sylvatica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Incertae sedis
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Myosotis
Species:	M. sylvatica
Binomial name
Myosotis sylvatica Ehrh.

Myosotis sylvatica, the wood forget-me-not or woodland forget-me-not,^[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to Europe.

Description

It is a short-lived herbaceous perennial or biennial growing to 12–30 cm (5–12 in) tall by 15 cm (6 in) wide, with hairy leaves and a profusion of disc-shaped, intensely blue (occasionally white) flowers in Spring.

General view

Close up of calyx, background lines are 5mm apart

Calyx in its stem

Close up of flower, background square is 5mm across

Flower head - note how flat the petals are

Calyx with mature fruit inside, background lines are 5mm apart

Side 1 of mature fruit, background lines are 5mm apart

Side 2 of mature fruit, background lines are 5mm apart

Close up of stem, background square is 5mm across

Stace^[2] describes this plant as having the following characteristics:

• Upright, to 50 cm; softly hairy, with hairs at more-or-less right-angles to the main stem.
• Flowers grey-blue, to 8mm across, flat in profile; sepal tube with hooked hairs; April–July.^[3]
• Mature fruit dark brown, shiny.
• Mature calyx on spreading stalks longer than sepal tube; calyx teeth spreading to expose the ripe fruit.
• Basal leaves stalked, in a rosette; upper leaves not stalked.
• Generally found in woods, scree and rock ledges; common throughout the British Isles.

Cultivation

Widely cultivated throughout the temperate world, it is particularly associated with spring bedding schemes involving other spring-flowering subjects, notably daffodils, tulips, wallflowers and primulas. It is also the parent of numerous cultivars in shades of pink, blue and white.^[4]

Cultivars include:-

• 'Blue Basket', a taller variety with deeper blue flowers
• 'Blue Ball', a more compact variety
• 'Music', erect and large flowered
• 'Pompadour', compact, ball-shaped with large rose-pink flowers
• 'Snowball', white flowers
• 'Ultramarine', dwarf with very deep blue flowers
• 'Victoria Rose', bright pink flowers

British distribution

It is widespread in England, Wales and the Isle of Man, although less frequent further north. It can be found along a lot of the east coast of Scotland and areas in the South West, although missing from most of the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. In Ireland it is mostly found in Northern Ireland, although there are a few spots in the Republic of Ireland. ^[5]

Notable gardens

• Bank Hall, Bretherton, Lancashire

References

1. "Myosotis sylvatica". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
2. New Flora of the British Isles; Clive Stace; Third edition; 2011 printing
3. The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe; Fitter, Fitter, Blamey; Collins; 3rd edition 1978
4. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
5. https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0000460822, NBN Gateway.Myosotis sylvatica Ehrh. ex Hoffm. [Wood Forget-me-not], NBN Gateway. Retrieved 13/04/15