''Myosotis'' ( ) is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of flowering plants in the family

Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The APG IV system from 2016 classifies the Boraginaceae as single family of the order ...

. The name comes from the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

"mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots or scorpion grasses. ''

Myosotis alpestris ''Myosotis alpestris'' or alpine forget-me-not is a herbaceous perennial plant in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. The alpine forget-me-not is the County flowers of the United Kingdom, county flower of Westmorland in the United Kingdom ...

'' is the official flower of

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...

and

Dalsland Dalsland () is a Swedish traditional province, or ''landskap'', situated in Götaland in southern Sweden. Lying to the west of Lake Vänern, it is bordered by Värmland to the north, Västergötland to the southeast, Bohuslän to the west, and ...

, Sweden. Plants of the genus are commonly confused with

Chatham Islands The Chatham Islands ( ) (Moriori: ''Rēkohu'', 'Misty Sun'; mi, Wharekauri) are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about east of New Zealand's South Island. They are administered as part of New Zealand. The archipelago consists of about te ...

' forget-me-nots, which belong to the related genus ''

Myosotidium ''Myosotidium'' is a genus of plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. This genus is represented by the single species ''Myosotidium hortensia'', the Chatham Islands lily, giant forget-me-not or Chatham Islands forget-me-not, which is endemi ...

''.

Description

The genus was originally described by

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

. The

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

is ''

Myosotis scorpioides ''Myosotis scorpioides'' ( 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, bu ...

''. ''Myosotis'' species are

annual Annual may refer to: * Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year **Yearbook ** Literary annual * Annual plant * Annual report * Annual giving * Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco * Annuals (b ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herbaceous

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s with penta

merous Merosity (from the greek "méros," which means "having parts") refers to the number of component parts in a distinct whorl of a plant structure. The term is most commonly used in the context of a flower where it refers to the number of sepals in a ...

actinomorphic Floral symmetry describes whether, and how, a flower, in particular its perianth, can be divided into two or more identical or mirror-image parts. Uncommonly, flowers may have no axis of symmetry at all, typically because their parts are spirall ...

flowers with 5 sepals and petals. Flowers are typically 1 cm in diameter or less, flatly faced, coloured blue, pink, white or yellow with yellow centres and borne on scorpioid cymes. The foliage is alternate, and their

root In vascular plants, the roots are the organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often below the sur ...

s are generally diffuse. They typically flower in spring or soon after the melting of snow in alpine ecosystems. Wald Vergissmeinnicht

The

seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...

s are contained in small, tulip-shaped pods along the stem to the flower. The pods attach to clothing when brushed against and eventually fall off, leaving the small seed within the pod to

germinate Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or spore. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the spores of fungi, fer ...

elsewhere. Seeds can be collected by placing a sheet of paper under stems and shaking the seed pods onto the paper. ''

'' is colloquially called ''scorpion grass'' because of the spiraling curvature of its inflorescence.

Distribution

The genus is largely restricted to western

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago a ...

, with approximately 60 confirmed species, and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

with approximately 40 endemic species. A few species occur elsewhere including

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

, and

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

. Despite this, ''Myosotis'' species are now common throughout temperate latitudes because of the introduction of

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...

s and alien species. Many are popular in

horticulture Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...

. They prefer moist habitats. In locales where they are not native, they frequently escape to

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...

s and riverbanks. Only those native to the Northern hemisphere are colloquially denominated "forget-me-nots". One or two

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

an species, especially ''

Myosotis sylvatica ''Myosotis sylvatica'', the wood forget-me-not or woodland forget-me-not, is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to Europe. This spring-flowering plant and its cultivars, typically with blue flowers, are the familiar f ...

'', the "woodland" forget-me-nots, have been introduced into most of the

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...

regions of Europe,

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

, and the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

. Genetic analysis indicates that the genus originated in the northern hemisphere, and that species native to New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea and South America form a lineage of closely related species that are likely derived from a single dispersal event to the southern hemisphere.

Ecology

Hover Fly feeding on forget-me-not flower 2

''Myosotis'' are food for the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species including the

setaceous Hebrew character The setaceous Hebrew character (''Xestia c-nigrum'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. It is found in the Palearctic realm. It is a common specie ...

. Many of the species in

are threatened.

Taxonomy

Of more than 510 recorded species names, only 152

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

are presently accepted, listed below. The remainder are either synonyms or hybrids of presently accepted or proposed names. *''

Myosotis abyssinica ''Myosotis abyssinica'' () is a species of plant in the family Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. Th ...

Boiss. Pierre Edmond Boissier (25 May 1810 Geneva – 25 September 1885 Valeyres-sous-Rances) was a Swiss prominent botanist, explorer and mathematician. He was the son of Jacques Boissier (1784-1857) and Caroline Butini (1786-1836), daughter of Pierre ...

& Reut. *'' Myosotis afropalustris'' C.H. Wright *''

Myosotis albicans ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Riedl *''

Myosotis albiflora ''Myosotis albiflora'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to southern Chile and Argentina. This species was described by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in Joseph Dalton Hooker's 19th century work ''Flora Antarct ...

Banks A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...

Sol. Daniel Carlsson Solander or Daniel Charles Solander (19 February 1733 – 13 May 1782) was a Sweden, Swedish naturalist and an Apostles of Linnaeus, apostle of Carl Linnaeus. Solander was the first university-educated scientist to set foot on ...

Hook.f. Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (30 June 1817 – 10 December 1911) was a British botanist and explorer in the 19th century. He was a founder of geographical botany and Charles Darwin's closest friend. For twenty years he served as director of ...

*'' Myosotis albosericea''

*''

'' F.W.Schmidt (alpine forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis amabilis''

Cheeseman Cheeseman is a surname, meaning a maker or seller of cheese. Over time, the name has been spelt in a variety of different ways, including Cheesman, Cheseman, Chesman, Chessman, Chiesman and Chisman. Notable people with the surname include: * An ...

*''

Myosotis ambigens ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' ( Bég.)

Grau The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (), commonly referred to by its transliterated Russian acronym GRAU (), is a department of the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is subordinate to the ...

*'' Myosotis angustata''

*'' Myosotis anomala'' Riedl *''

Myosotis antarctica ''Myosotis antarctica'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to mainland New Zealand, Campbell Island and southern Chile. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in his 19th century work ''Flora Antarctica''. Pl ...

*''

Myosotis arnoldii ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

L.B.Moore Lucy Beatrice Moore (14 July 1906 – 9 June 1987) was a New Zealand botanist and ecologist. Biography Early life and education Moore was born in Warkworth, New Zealand, on 14 July 1906, the daughter of Janet Morison and Harry Blomfield Moor ...

*''

Myosotis arvensis ''Myosotis arvensis'' or field forget-me-not is a herbaceous annual plant, annual to short lived perennial plant, perennial flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae. Clive Stace describes this plant as having the following characteristics: * ...

'' (L.)

Hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct Summit (topography), summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally con ...

(field forget-me-not) *''

Myosotis asiatica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' (Vestergr. ''ex'' Hultén) Schischk. & Serg. (Asiatic forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis atlantica'' Vestergr. *''

Myosotis australis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' R.Br. *''

Myosotis austrosibirica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' O.D.Nikif. *''

Myosotis azorica ''Myosotis azorica'', common name Azorean mouse-ear or Azorean forget-me-not, is a plant species endemic to the Azores Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Description ''Myosotis azorica'' is a perennial herb with decumbent stems up to 30 ...

'' H.C.Watson (Azores forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis baicalensis'' O.D.Nikif. *''

Myosotis balbisiana ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Jord. *'' Myosotis bothriospermoides'' Kitag. *''

Myosotis brachypoda ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

Gren. Jean Charles Marie Grenier (1808–1875) was a French botanist and naturalist who was a professor to the Faculty of Sciences at Besançon. In 1836 he received his doctorate in medicine, followed by his degree in sciences in 1844. At Besançon, h ...

*'' Myosotis brevis'' de Lange & Barkla *''

Myosotis brockiei ''Myosotis brockiei'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to southern South Island of New Zealand. Lucy Moore and Margaret Simpson described the species in 1973. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are pere ...

& M.J.A.Simpson *'' Myosotis bryonoma'' Meudt, Prebble & Thorsen *'' Myosotis butorinae'' Stepanov *'' Myosotis cadmea'' Kitag *'' Myosotis cameroonensis''

Cheek The cheeks ( la, buccae) constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. "Buccal" means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve. The area between the inside ...

& R.Becker *'' Myosotis capitata''

*'' Myosotis chaffeyorum'' Lehnebach *''

Myosotis chakassica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' O.D.Nikif. *'' Myosotis cheesemanii''

Petrie Petrie is a surname of Scottish origin which may refer to: People * Alexander Petrie (minister), Alexander Petrie (died 1662), Scottish minister * Alistair Petrie (born 1970), English actor * Andrew Petrie (1798–1872), Scottish-born builder, arc ...

*'' Myosotis × cinerascens''

*''

Myosotis colensoi ''Myosotis colensoi'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Thomas Kirk described the species in 1896. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes with bract ...

'' (

Kirk Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning "church". It is often used specifically of the Church of Scotland. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it. Basic meaning and etymology As a common noun, ''kirk'' ...

) J.F.Macbr. *'' Myosotis concinna''

*'' Myosotis congesta'' Shuttlew. *'' Myosotis corsicana'' (Fiori) Grau *'' Myosotis czekanowskii'' (Trautv.) Kamelin & V.N.Tikhom. *''

Myosotis daralaghezica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' T.N.Popova *''

Myosotis debilis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

Pomel Nicolas Auguste Pomel (20 September 1821 – 2 August 1898) was a French geologist, paleontologist and botanist. He worked as a mines engineer in Algeria and became a specialist in north African vertebrate fossils. He was Senator of Algeria for Ora ...

*''

Myosotis decumbens ''Myosotis decumbens'' is a plant species of the genus ''Myosotis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In ...

'' Host *''

Myosotis diminuta ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Grau *''

Myosotis discolor ''Myosotis discolor'' is a species of forget-me-not known by the common name changing forget-me-not. It is native to Europe, and it can also be found throughout eastern and western North America, where it is an introduced species. It grows in man ...

Pers. Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1 February 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a German mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy. Early life Persoon was born in South Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, the third child of an imm ...

(changing forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis densiflora'' C. Koch *'' Myosotis dissitiflora''

Baker A baker is a tradesperson who bakes and sometimes sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery. History Ancient history Since grains ha ...

*''

Myosotis ergakensis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Stepanov *''

Myosotis exarrhena ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

F.Muell. Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (german: Müller; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Victo ...

*'' Myosotis eximia''

*''

Myosotis explanata ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

*''

Myosotis forsteri ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

Lehm. Johann Georg Christian Lehmann (25 February 1792 – 12 February 1860) was a German botanist. Born at Haselau, near Uetersen, Duchy of Holstein, Holstein, Lehmann studied medicine in Copenhagen and Göttingen, obtained a doctorate in medicine ...

*''

Myosotis gallica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Vestergr. *''

Myosotis galpinii ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' C.H.Wright *'' Myosotis glabrescens''

*''

Myosotis glauca ''Myosotis glauca'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. George Simpson and J.S. Thomson described ''M. pygmaea'' var. ''glauca'' in 1942, and Peter de Lange and John Barkla ...

'' ( G.Simpson & J.S.Thomson) de Lange & Barkla *''

Myosotis goyenii ''Myosotis goyenii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Donald Petrie described the species in 1891. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes which form ...

*''

Myosotis graminifolia ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' DC. *'' Myosotis graui'' Selvi *'' Myosotis guneri '' A.P.Khokhr. *''

Myosotis heteropoda ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

Trautv. Ernst Rudolf von Trautvetter (20 February 1809, in Jelgava – 24 January 1889, in St. Petersburg), was a Baltic German botanist, specialising in the flora of the Caucasus and central Asia. He was the son of Ernst Christian Johann von Trautvetter ...

*'' Myosotis hikuwai'' Meudt, Prebble & G.M.Rogers *'' Myosotis imitata'' Serg. *'' Myosotis incrassata''

Guss. Giovanni Gussone (8 February 1787, Villamaina – 14 January 1866, Naples) was an Italian academic and botanist, remembered for his work in plant taxonomy and in particular his research in Sicilian flora. He studied medicine in Naples, where he ...

*''

Myosotis jenissejensis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' O.D.Nikif. *'' Myosotis jordanovii'' N.Andreev & Peev *''

Myosotis kamelinii ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' O.D.Nikif. *''

Myosotis kazakhstanica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' O.D.Nikif. *''

Myosotis kebeshensis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Stepanov *''

Myosotis keniensis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' T.C.E.Fr. *''

Myosotis koelzii ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Riedl *'' Myosotis kolakovskyi'' A.P.Khokhr. *'' Myosotis krasnoborovii'' O.D.Nikif. & Lomon. *'' Myosotis krylovii'' Serg. *'' Myosotis kurdica'' Riedl *''

Myosotis laeta ''Myosotis laeta'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to ultramafic areas of the Sounds-Nelson area of the South Island of New Zealand. Thomas Cheeseman described the species in 1885. Plants of this species of fo ...

*'' Myosotis laingii''

*'' Myosotis latifolia''

Poir. Jean Louis Marie Poiret (11 June 1755 in Saint-Quentin7 April 1834 in Paris) was a French clergyman, botanist, and explorer. From 1785 to 1786, he was sent by Louis XVI to Algeria to study the flora. After the French Revolution, he became a ...

(broadleaf forget-me-not) *''

Myosotis laxa ''Myosotis laxa'' is a species of forget-me-not ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hem ...

(tufted forget-me-not or bay forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis lazica''

Popov Popov (; masculine), or Popova (; feminine), is a common Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian surname. Derived from a Slavonic word ''pop'' (, "priest"). The fourth most common Russian surname, it may refer to: * Alek Popov (born 1966), ...

*''

Myosotis lithospermifolia ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

Hornem. Jens Wilken Hornemann (6 March 1770 – 30 July 1841) was a Denmark, Danish botanist. Biography He was a lecturer at the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden from 1801. After the death of Martin Vahl (botanist), Martin Vahl in 1804, the task ...

*'' Myosotis lithuanica'' (Schmalh.) Besser ex Dobrocz. *'' Myosotis litoralis'' Steven ex M.Bieb. *'' Myosotis ludomilae'' Zaver. *''

Myosotis lyallii ''Myosotis lyallii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in 1853. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate ...

*''

Myosotis macrantha ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' (

)

Benth. George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

*'' Myosotis macrosiphon'' Font Quer & Maire *'' Myosotis macrosperma''

Engelm. George Engelmann, also known as Georg Engelmann, (2 February 1809 – 4 February 1884) was a German-American botanist. He was instrumental in describing the flora (plants), flora of the west of North America, then very poorly known to Europeans; ...

(largeseed forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis magniflora'' A.P.Khokhr. *'' Myosotis margaritae'' Štěpánková *''

Myosotis maritima ''Myosotis maritima'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae endemic to the Azores. It is found in rocks, cliffs and coastal landslides, at altitudes generally below (on the island of Flores Flores is one of the Lesser ...

'' Hochst. ex Seub. *'' Myosotis martini''

Sennen Sennen (''Cornish: Sen Senan'' or ''Sen Senana'') is a coastal civil parish and a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Sennen village is situated approximately eight miles (13 km) west-southwest of Penzance.Ordnance Survey: Landra ...

*'' Myosotis matthewsii''

*'' Myosotis michaelae'' Štěpánková *'' Myosotis micrantha'' Pall. ex Lehm. *'' Myosotis minutiflora''

& Reut. *''

Myosotis monroi ''Myosotis monroi'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. The species was described by Thomas Cheeseman. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial and erect, and have e ...

(Monro's forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis nemorosa'' Besser *'' Myosotis nikiforovae'' Stepanov *'' Myosotis ochotensis'' O.D.Nikif. *''

Myosotis olympica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

*'' Myosotis oreophila''

*''

Myosotis pansa ''Myosotis pansa'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Lucy Moore described the variety ''M. petiolata'' var. ''pansa'' in 1961, and it was raised to species level as ''M. p ...

'' (

) Meudt, Prebble, R.J.Stanley & Thorsen *'' Myosotis paucipilosa'' (Grau) Ristow & Hand *'' Myosotis persoonii'' Georges RouyRouy & E.G.Camus *'' Myosotis petiolata''

*''

Myosotis platyphylla ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

*'' Myosotis popovii'' Dobrocz. *'' Myosotis pottsiana'' (

) Meudt, Prebble, R.J.Stanley & Thorsen *'' Myosotis propinqua'' (Turcz.) Fisch. & C.A.Mey. *''

Myosotis pulvinaris ''Myosotis pulvinaris'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in 1867. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a pro ...

*''

Myosotis pusilla ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Loisel. *'' Myosotis radix-palaris'' A.P.Khokhr. *''

Myosotis ramosissima ''Myosotis ramosissima'' or early forget-me-not is a flowering plant species in the family Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a ...

'' Rochel (early forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis rakiura''

*'' Myosotis refracta''

*''

Myosotis rehsteineri ''Myosotis rehsteineri'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Its native range is Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range s ...

'' (Hausm.) Wartm. ex Reut. *''

Myosotis retrorsa ''Myosotis retrorsa'' is a species of flowering plant in the Family (biology), family Boraginaceae, Endemic species, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Heidi Meudt, Jessica Prebble and Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls described the species. Plant ...

'' Meudt, Prebble & Hindmarsh-Walls *'' Myosotis rivularis'' (Vestergr.) A.P. Khokhr *'' Myosotis robusta''

D.Don David Don (21 December 1799 – 15 December 1841) was a Scottish botanist. Biography David Don was born on 21 December 1799 at Doo Hillock, Forfar, Angus, Scotland to Caroline Clementina Stuart, and her husband George Don of Forfar. His olde ...

*''

Myosotis sajanensis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' O.D.Nikif. *'' Myosotis saxatilis''

*''

Myosotis saxosa ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

*''

Myosotis schistosa ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' A.P.Khokhr. *''

Myosotis schmakovii ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' O.D.Nikif. *''

'' (L.) (true forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis secunda'' Al.Murray (creeping forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis semiamplexicaulis''

DC. Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple of years de Candolle ...

*''

Myosotis sicula ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

(Jersey forget-me-not) *''

Myosotis solange ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Greuter & Zaffran *'' Myosotis soleirolii'' Godr. *'' Myosotis sparsiflora''

J.C.Mikan Johann Christian Mikan (born 5 December 1769 in Teplitz, died 28 December 1844 in Prague) was an Austrian-Czech botanist, zoologist and entomologist. He was the son of Joseph Gottfried Mikan. Career Mikan was a professor of natural history a ...

''ex''

Pohl Pohl is a German surname of several possible origins.Pohl Name Meaning

Myosotis spatulata''

G.Forst. Johann George Adam Forster, also known as Georg Forster (, 27 November 1754 – 10 January 1794), was a German naturalist, ethnologist, travel writer, journalist and revolutionary. At an early age, he accompanied his father, Johann Reinhold F ...

*''

Myosotis speciosa ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Auguste PomelPomel *'' Myosotis speluncicola'' Schott ''ex'' Boiss *''

Myosotis stenophylla ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Knaf *''

Myosotis stolonifera ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

( J.Gay ex DC.) J.Gay ex Leresche & Levier *'' Myosotis stricta'' Link ''ex''

Roem. Johann Jacob Roemer (8 January 1763, Zurich – 15 January 1819) was a physician and professor of botany in Zurich, Switzerland. He was also an entomologist. With Austrian botanist Joseph August Schultes, he published the 16th edition of Carl ...

Schult. Josef (Joseph) August Schultes (15 April 1773 in Vienna – 21 April 1831 in Landshut) was an Austrian botanist and professor from Vienna. Together with Johann Jacob Roemer (1763–1819), he published the 16th edition of Linnaeus' ''Systema ...

*''

Myosotis suavis ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

*'' Myosotis subcordata'' Riedl *''

Ehrh. Jakob Friedrich Ehrhart (4 November 1742, Holderbank, Aargau – 26 June 1795) was a German botanist, a pupil of Carl Linnaeus at Uppsala University, and later director of the Botanical Garden of Hannover, where he produced several major botanical ...

''ex''

Hoffm. Georg Franz Hoffmann was a German Botany, botanist and lichenology, lichenologist. He was born on 13 January 1760 in Marktbreit, Germany, and died on 17 March 1826 in Moscow, Russia. Professional career After graduating from the University of Er ...

(wood forget-me-not) *'' Myosotis tenericaulis''

*'' Myosotis taverae'' Valdés *''

Myosotis tineoi ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' C.Brullo & Brullo *'' Myosotis traillii''

*''

Myosotis traversii ''Myosotis traversii'' is a species of flowering plant in the Family (biology), family Boraginaceae, Endemic species, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described this species in 1864. Plants of this species of For ...

*'' Myosotis tuxeniana'' ( O.Bolòs & Vigo) O.Bolòs & Vigo *''

Myosotis ucrainica ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Czern. *'' Myosotis ultramafica'' Meudt, Prebble & Rance *'' Myosotis umbrosa'' Meudt, Prebble & Thorsen *''

Myosotis uniflora ''Myosotis uniflora'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in 1867. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prost ...

*'' Myosotis urceolaris'' Shuttlew. *'' Myosotis venosa'' Colenso *''

Myosotis venticola ''Myosotis venticola'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Heidi Meudt and Jessica Prebble described ''M. venticola'' in 2022. Plants of this forget-me-not are perennial with ...

'' Meudt & Prebble *'' Myosotis verna''

Nutt. Thomas Nuttall (5 January 1786 – 10 September 1859) was an English botanist and zoologist who lived and worked in America from 1808 until 1841. Nuttall was born in the village of Long Preston, near Settle in the West Riding of Yorkshire and ...

(spring forget-me-not) *''

Myosotis vestergrenii ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

'' Stroh *'' Myosotis welwitschii''

& Reut. *'' Myosotis wumengensis'' L.Wei

Gallery

File:Myosotis scorpioides LC0184.jpg, ''

'' File:Myosotis eximia Flowers MRD Otari.jpg, '' Myosotis eximia'' File:Myosotis colensoi.jpg, ''

'' File:Myosotis pulvinaris 2.jpg, ''

'' File:Myosotis pansa kz1.jpg, ''

'' File:Blue forget-me-nots.jpg, ''Myosotis sylvatica'' File:P1050373 Alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) in Kharta Chu side valley, Tibet Thu 20 July 2006.jpg, ''

Symbolism

The small blue forget-me-not flower was first used by the

Grand Lodge A Grand Lodge (or Grand Orient or other similar title) is the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country. In Freemasonry A Grand Lodge or Grand Orient is the us ...

''Zur Sonne'', in 1926, as a Masonic emblem at the annual convention in

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (german: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, ), is the capital of the German state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (''Freie Hansestadt Bremen''), a two-city-state consis ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. In 1938, a forget-me-not badge—made by the same factory as the Masonic badge—was chosen for the annual Nazi Party ''

Winterhilfswerk The ''Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes'' ( en, link=yes, Winter Relief of the German People), commonly known by its abbreviated form ''Winterhilfswerk'' (WHW), was an annual donation drive by the National Socialist People's Welfare (german: ...

'', the annual charity drive of the

National Socialist People's Welfare The National Socialist People's Welfare (german: Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt, NSV) was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. The NSV was originally established in 1931 as a small Nazi Party-affiliated charity active loca ...

, the welfare branch of the Nazi party. This coincidence enabled

Freemasons Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

to wear the forget-me-not badge as a secret sign of membership. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the forget-me-not flower was used again as a Masonic emblem in 1948 at the first Annual Convention of the

United Grand Lodges of Germany The United Grand Lodges of Germany (German: ''Vereinigte Großlogen von Deutschland'' or VGLvD) is an association (confederation) of the five Grand Lodges of Freemasons in Germany which are recognized as ''Regular Masonic jurisdiction, regular'' by ...

. The badge is now worn in the coat lapel by Freemasons around the world to remember all who suffered in the name of Freemasonry, especially those during the Nazi era. The flower is also used as a symbol of remembrance by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is used to commemorate those from the province who were killed in the First World War, and worn around July 1. It is also used in Germany to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the world wars in a similar manner to the use of

remembrance poppies A remembrance poppy is an artificial flower worn in some countries to commemorate their military personnel who died in war. Remembrance poppies are produced by veterans' associations, who exchange the poppies for charitable donations used to gi ...

in the UK. The flower is also the symbol for the Armenian Genocide's 100th anniversary. The design of the flower is a black dot symbolising the past, and the suffering of Armenian people. The light purple appendages symbolise the present, and unity of Armenians. The 5 purple petals symbolise the future, and the five continents Armenians escaped to. The yellow in the centre symbolises eternity, and the

Tsitsernakaberd The Armenian Genocide Memorial complex ( hy, Հայոց ցեղասպանության զոհերի հուշահամալիր, ''Hayots tseghaspanutyan zoheri hushahamalir'', or Ծիծեռնակաբերդ, '' Tsitsernakaberd'') is Armenia's official ...

itself symbolises the 12 provinces lost to Turkey. In

Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...

the flower has become one of the symbols for the commemoration of the

January Events , partof = Revolutions of 1989, Singing Revolution, and Dissolution of the Soviet Union , image = , caption = A man with a Lithuanian flag in front of a Soviet tank, 13 January 1991 , date = ...

of 1991. In The Netherlands, the forget-me-not has become a symbol for Alzheimer Nederland, a foundation advocating for people suffering from

dementia Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affe ...

. In New Zealand, the Forget-Me-Not is the symbol for Alzheimers New Zealand, the foundation advocating for people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and dementia. In history of art, the forget-me-not is used to remember loved ones who have passed away. It is therefore very common in funerary portraits.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q147149 Boraginaceae genera Symbols of Alaska Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Blue flowers