7 8 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 



anthers and stigmas mature together. The flowers are conspicuous, 

 and many insects are attracted to them in fine weather. A fly sucking 

 honey settles for but 2-3 sec. The concealed honey is contained at 

 the base of the ovary in the bottom of the tube, 2-3 mm. long. An 

 insect inserts its proboscis between the stigma and anthers, which can 

 be done from any side, so that a bee or other insect touching the 

 anthers in one will touch the stigma in the next; and as the proboscis 

 is withdrawn and again inserted a fly also self-pollinates it. When 



WOOD FORGET-ME-NOT (Myosotis syl-vatica, Hoffm.) 



self-pollinated it is fertile. The plant is visited largely by bees, An- 

 drena, and flies, Eristalis, Syritta, Rhingia, Scatophaga, Echinomyia, 

 Onesia. 



The flowers are odorous in the evening. 



The seeds are hooked, and catch in the wool of animals. 



The plant is a humus-lover, growing in humus soil. The second 

 Latin name refers to its woodland habitat. 



The only other name for Wood Forget-me-not is Cat's Eyes. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



217. Myosotis sylvatica, Hoffm. Stem tall, erect, branched above, 

 with spreading hairs, leaves oblong, lanceolate, stalks of lower leaves 

 dilated, flowers bright blue, limb longer than tube, flat, calyx round 

 below, hairs on calyx hooked. 



