Myosotis species - Forget-me-nots

There is a useful pictorial guide to the Forget-me-nots here. This guide includes Early Forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima which may not occur in Lanarkshire and it does not include

Myosotis arvensis - Field Forget-me-not

The commonest Forget-me-not. Like all three of the forget-me-nots of dry ground the calyx have spreading hairs, some curving or hooked.

Myosotis discolor - Changing Forget-me-not

This is a small forget-me-not growing up to 25cm and often smaller. The corolla opens cream or yellow at first then changes through pink to blue.

The pedicles are ±shorter than the calyx at fruiting.

There are two sub-species that may be elevated to species and if you can try to record at sub-species level.

Myosotis discolor subsp. discolor

Myosotis sylvatica - Wood Forget-me-not

Myosotis scorpioides - Water Forget-me-not

Myosotis secunda - Creeping Forget-me-not

Myosotis laxa - Tufted Forget-me-not

There are hairs sticking out of the calyx and some are hooked. The flower has a shallow bowel shape overall.

Myosotis arvensis NS5755 13Jul2012 PW

The “changing'“ flower is clearly demonstrated here.

Myosotis discolor NS6065 17May2018 PW

The hairs are clearly seen, with the aphid family providing scale.

Myosotis discolor NS6170 4May2019 MP

The uppermost pair of stem leaves are alternate which suggests that this is Myosotis discolor subsp. dubia.

Myosotis discolor NS9738 16Sep2017 PW

From Andy Jones' article in BSBI News

BSBI NEWS 153 | April 2023 page 3

The flowers are larger then M. arvense but they are also flatter and are flat like a disc rather than a shallow bowl.

Myosotis sylvatica 16Apr2017 NS7951 MP

The calyx teeth are open exposing the fruit.

Myosotis sylvatica NS6057 28Apr2019 PW

Myosotis scorpioides NS7965 14Jun2013 PW

Myosotis laxa NS6257 22Aug2013 PW

This shows the appressed hairs on the calyx which has teeth where the sides of the triangle and longer than the base.

Myosotis laxa NS8065 21Jul14 PW

Myosotis laxa NS6257 22Aug2013 PW