Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_3055.JPG-08-26-2019
Flower name (scientific): Myosotis scorpioides Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) my-oh-SO-tis skor-pee-OY-dees
Flower name (common): True Forget-me-not
Family name (common): Borage
Family name (scientific): Boraginaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek for mouse-ear, a name used by Dioscorides.
    Specific epithet: Having a curvature like the tail of a scorpion.
Common name origin: A translation of an old French name. From the myth that those wearing the flower would never be forgotten by their lovers. True is used to distinguish the present species from related Myosotis species.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (0.5 to 0.8 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: blue
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description:
     Size: 4 to 16 inches (10 to 41 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to 8 cm long and 2 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, oblong-elliptic or oblong-oblanceolate (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, invasive
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): May to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual/Biennial
Habitat: Streambanks, lakeshores, wet fields, sun or part shade, moist to wet.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): There are seven Myosotis species in Wisconsin. M. arvensis (Field Forget-me-not) has blue flowers about 3 mm in size and spreading hairs on the calyces. M. discolor (Changing Forget-me-not) has flowers less than 3 mm in size that undergo a color change from yellow to pink to blue, and it is very uncommon in Wisconsin. M. laxa (Smaller Forget-me-not) has blue flowers about 3 to 6 mm in size and appressed hairs on the calyces. M. stricta (Strict Forget-me-not) has flowers less than 3 mm in size, and is very uncommon in Wisconsin. M. sylvatica (Wood Forget-me-not) has blue flowers about 6 to 8 mm in size and spreading hairs on the calyces. M. verna (Spring Forget-me-not) has white flowers about 3 mm in size and spreading hairs on the calyces. Whereas M. scorpioides has appressed hairs on the calyces and flowers that are about 5 to 8 mm in size.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.799882
Longitude: -91.508288
Altitude: 237.70
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, YT) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: Myosotis scorpioides subsp. scorpioides (The other infraspecifics are Myosotis scorpioides subsp. praecox (Hülphers) Lindman, Myosotis scorpioides subsp. radicans (Opiz) Valdés. Neither of these two subspecies have been recorded from North America.)
Wetland Status (NC): OBL
Wetland Status (MW): OBL