THE BORAGE FAMILY. 237 



An exceedingly common garden flower, prizel for its early blossoms, red and 

 purple in the same cluster, and for the curious appearance of its wliite-spotted 

 leaves. 



6. Poets' Foeget-me-not — {Myosotis palkstris.) 

 Edges of rivers and clear streams, loving to sit at the water-lip and 

 bathe its feet, while its blue eyes shine back sweetly from the depths. 

 Found also on the borders of ponds and shallow water-courses. In 

 many places about Stretford, Sale, and Timperley, where it is abundant 

 on the banks of the canal, and in the ditch by the railway, on the 

 right hand, just before coming to the station. Fl. July, August. 



Curtis, i. 158 (as Myosotin scorpioides) ; E. B. xxviii. 1973 ; Baxter, i. 57. • 



The celebrity of this plant as the emblem of constancy rests popularly upon 

 the legend related in Mill's History of Chivalry (i. :->15). But the true ground of 

 it lies farther back than the days of tournaments, and is of another naturg 

 entirely, as spoken of in "Walks and Wild-flowers," p. 31. 



7. Sylvan Fobget-me-not — {Myosotis sylvdtica.) 

 Woods and groves, the prevalent forget-me-not of the district. 

 Pendlebury ; Bowdon, near Weybridge Hollow ; Cotterill Clough, 

 abundant ; Botany Bay -Wood, Worsley ; and in the most charming 

 perfection and luxuriance at Styal, and in the woods of the Reddish 

 Valley. (See " Walks and Wild-flowers," chap, vii.) Fl. May. 

 E. B., Supp. i. 2C30. 



8. Field Fobget-me-not — {Myosotis arvinsis.) 

 Dry fields and hedgebanks, common everywhere. Fl. May, June. 



Annual. 



E. B., Supp. i. 2629. 



A pretty little flower, enamelled and brilliant like tho preceding, hut in size 

 not to compare with them. 



9. Cbeeping Fobget-me-not — {Myosotis repens.) 

 Spongy places by sides of ponds and streamlets. Hale Moss, plen- 

 tiful ; Mere Clough ; Lindow Common. Fl. June — August. 

 E. B., Supp. i. 2703. 



10. Matteb Foeget-me-not — {Myosotis ccespitdsa.) 

 Ditch-banks, and muddy edges of pools, among rushes and other 

 semi-aquatic plants, but not in the water, common. Fl. June — August. 

 E. B., Supp. i. 2fi61. 



