Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

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Common name: forget-me-not

Synonyms and Other Names: Myosotis palustris, Water Forget-me-not, Yelloweye forget-me-not, Scorpion Weed, Love-me, Marsh Scorpion Grass, Mouse-Ear Scorpion Grass, Snake Grass

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: This species is an erect, perennial, 4"-24" tall forb, with hairy stems. It is often creeping and has fibrous roots. Forget-me-not has blue five-petaled flowers with a yellow center, 1/4"-3/8" wide, with petals flat at the top of the tube, calyx with flat, tight hairs, and lobes much shorter than the tube. Inflorescence is a terminal, curving, branched cluster (cyme) that produces smooth, shiny nutlets on spreading stalks. Leaves are alternate, stalkless, hairy, and evergreen in ponds. This species blooms from May to September.

Size: 6 to 12 inches tall (15-30 cm), 9 to 12 inches spread (22-30 cm)

Native Range: Europe and Asia (native to moist meadows and stream banks from Europe to Siberia).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology: Prefered habitat for this species includes wet areas, such as shores, shallows, streambanks, and springs. It may form rafts in slow-moving streams can can remain submerged in up to 3 inches of water. It blooms from May to October in temperate climates.

Means of Introduction: Intentionally introduced for ornamental cultivation, garden escapes.

Status: Introduced and naturalized. Despite some reports of this species being ecologically invasive, it is widespread and generally of low concern.

Impact of Introduction: Competes with native plants in wet habitats, but valued for its sky-blue flowers as an ornamental. Like other wetland plants, water forget-me-not offers resting places for aquatic winged insects such as caddis flies and alder flies. It also has nectar and pollen for bees. This plant is found partly submerged in or beside fresh water but also grows in marshes and fens. It is commonly planted in pond margins or bog gardens.

Remarks: Similar species: M. laxa has smaller flowers (2-6 mm) and lobes of its calyx are about 1/2 its total length

References: (click for full references)


Dudley, W.R. 1886. The Cayuga flora. Part 1: A catalogue of the Phaenogamia growing in cultivation in the Cayuga Lake basin. Cornell University Bulletin.

Environmental Assessment Program. 2018. Washington State Lakes Environmental Data Version 1.0. Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, WA. https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/coastalatlas/tools/LakeDetail.aspx. Accessed on 12/18/2018.

Gray, A. 1889. Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States. Sixth Edition. New York: American Book Co.

GRIN Taxonomy for Plants. 2008. Myosotis scorpioides. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?24815.

iMapInvasives. 2016. Oregon iMapInvasives. Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, Portland, OR. https://sites.google.com/site/orimapresources/. Accessed on 04/09/2015.

Germ, M., and A. Gaberscik. 2003. Comparison of aerial and submerged leaves in two amphibious species Myosotis scorpioides and Ranunculus trichophyllus. Photosynthetica 41(1):91-96.

Mills, E.L., J.H. Leach, J.T. Carlton, and C.L. Secor. 1993. Exotic species in the Great Lakes: a history of biotic crises and anthropogenic introductions. Journal of Great Lakes Research 19(1):1-54.

Natural England. 2008. Water forget-me-not - Myosotis scorpioides. http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o843-waterforgetmenot.php.

Plant for A Future. 2008. Myosotis scorpioides. http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Myosotis+scorpioides.

Soper, J.H., Garton, C.E., and Given, D.R. 1989. Flora of the North Shore of Lake Superior. Syllogeus 63. National Museums of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada.

USDA, NRCS. 1997. The PLANTS database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490. http://plants.usda.gov.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR). 2018. Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI. https://dnrx.wisconsin.gov/swims/viewRoi.html.

 

 

Other Resources:
http://www.voyageurcountry.com/htmls/floweringplants/plants 

USDA/NRCS PLANTS Database

Connecticut Botanical Society. http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/myosotisscor.html 

GRIN Taxonomy for Plants. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?24815  

M. Germ and A. Gaberscik. 2003. Comparison of aerial and submerged leaves in two amphibious species Myosotis scorpioides and Ranunculus trichophyllus. Photosynthetica 41 (1): 91-96. 

Natural England. http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o843-waterforgetmenot.php 

Plant for A Future. http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Myosotis+scorpioides 

USDA, NRCS, PLANTS Database, plants.usda.gov. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

WTH Herbarium.http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon

 

Author: Cao, L., and R. Sturtevant

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.