512 BORAGINACEAE 
5. MERTENSIA, Roth. 
Perennial herbs, stem and leaves usually smooth. Leaves alternate, 
sometimes dotted with pelucid dots. Flowers in slender or spreading 
clusters. Corolla tubular, spreading above, 5-lobed, without scales at the 
throat. Stamens 5, inserted at the top of the tube. Nutlets smooth; 
ovary 4-lobed. 
M. virginica, (L.) Link. (Fig. 9, pl. 127.) Virernta Cowsiip, Stem 
somewhat decumbent or erect, very smooth, branched, 1 to 2 ft. high. 
Leaves, the lower large, 2 to 5 in. long, obversely or directly egg-shaped, 
lower on leaf-stems, the upper without. Flowers in terminal cluster not 
one-sided; corolla trumpet-shaped, blue ‘to lilac, handsome, about 1 in. 
long, erect or pendant. Nutlets rounded, not prickly. Moist places, most 
of our area. March-May. 
6. MYOSOTIS, L. 
Low herbs, branching, somewhat decumbent or erect, hairy or downy. 
Flowers in slender curved clusters, spikes not bracted, or with a few small 
bracts at base of cluster. Calyx 5-cleft; corolla funnel- or salver-form, 
border of 5 lobes, throat closed by scales. Stamens 5, inserted into lower 
part of corolla tube. Nutlets egg-shaped, smooth. 
Hairs on the calyx minute and straight. 
ltobes or calyxshorter ‘than (Calyacitubeum.)ilsin lsc mnetnns te scorpioides 
Lobes as long as tube oe Be. etey eee) Ws - M. laxe 
Hairs on calyx stift and bent backward. at end, 
Fruit-stems longer than (’calyxtis, \ehetemieel cc heyy si) or vel mio (on ul lcm pcresasee 
Fruit-stems shorter than calyx. 
Corolla yellow, ShAngInE: to Blow dad alae Je 6G Ie ersscolge 
Corolla white . 5 wh’ No) id We ilbeeaies eel. IED emai IIE 
1. M. scorpioides, L. (Fig. 1, pl. 128.) Forcrt-ME-nor. (M. palus- 
tris, (L.) Lam.) Plant downy or nearly smooth, leaves lance-shaped or 
oblong, blunt at apex. Flowers in one-sided curved spikes (XII, p. 38) ; 
corolla blue with a yellow eye. Escaped from gardens. In brooks and 
marshes, more especially in the northern half of our area, May-July. 
2. M.laxa, Lehm. (Fig. 2, pl. 128.) SMALLER FORGET-ME-NoT. 
Leaves long and narrow, blunt at apex. Flowers in very loose curved 
spikes, the fruit stem much longer than the calyx which has short soft 
hairs. Corolla blue with yellow center. In muddy places and in water 
throughout our range. May-July. 
3. M. arvensis, (L.) Hill. Lam. Frerp Scorpion Grass. Very 
hairy, leaves long and narrow; the hairs on the calyx stiff and turned 
back at end. Stem of fruit much longer than calyx. Corolla blue. Moist 
fields, northern part of our area. June-Aug. 
4. M. versicolor, (Persh.) Reichenb. (Fig. 3, pl. 128.) YELLOow 
AND Biur Scorpion Grass. Stem slender, leaves long and narrow. Plant 
very hairy; slender flower spikes without bracts; calyx 5-parted; corolla 
pale yellow, changing to violet; stem of fruit not as long as calyx. Fields 
and roadsides, gouthern part of our area. May-July. 
5. M. virginica, (L.) BSP. (Fig. 4, pl. 128.) Sprina Scorpion 
Grass. Very hairy; lower leaves spatula-form. Calyx longer than the 
fruit stem. Flowers white. Dry hills, northern part of our area. April- 
June. 
