FORGET-ME-NOTS 399 



M. AZORICA (Azorean). Stems 6 to 12 inches high. Leaves bluntly 

 oblong, hairy. Flowers purple, turning blue, without yellow centre, 

 ^ -inch across, in dense cymes; June to September. The var. alba has 

 white flowers. A well-known garden variety is Im'peratrice Elizabeth. 

 Perennial ; rather tender. 



M. DissiTiFLORA (scattered-flowered). Stems 6 to 12 inches high, 

 downy. Leaves oblong-lance-shaped, downy, bright green. Flowers 

 deep bright blue, large, numerous ; spring. Very similar to M. sylvatica, 

 from which it differs in the shorter, less-spreading down, and the 

 nutlets being stalked and keeled. It is a capital bedding plant. The 

 var. elegantissima has the leaves edged with white. Perennial. 



M. PALUSTRis (marsh). Kootstock creeping, and sending out 

 runners. Stem somewhat succulent, more or less erect, 1 to 2 feet 

 high, stout, zigzag. Leaves oblong or spoon-shaped, glossy. Flowers 

 sky blue, with yellow centre, J- to J -inch across, the lobes notched ; 

 May to July. Nutlets small, black, with border and keel. Native 

 perennial, or biennial. 



M. SYLVATICA (wood). Stems branched from the base, 6 to 24 

 inches high, clothed with spreading hairs. Leaves oblong-lance-shaped 

 softly hairy. Flowers bright blue, J-inch across, tube short, fragrant in 

 evening ; May to September. Perennial. M. alpestris is a sub-species 

 of this. There are varieties in cultivation with white, pink, and striped 

 flowers. 



Most of the species succeed best in moist, shady places, 

 although M. sylvestris proper is a native of dry woods. 

 Soil is not of primary importance with them. They may all be grown 

 easily from seed sown in spring in the open border. They readily sow 

 themselves, and where a plant has grown this year an enormous number 

 of seedlings will appear next spring. These must be transplanted, or 

 they will destroy each other, or become poor and weedy. The perennial 

 species may also be increased by dividing the rootstocks in spring, or by 

 striking cuttings in summer, under a bell-glass or hand-light in a shady 

 border. In pricking out seedlings a space of a foot should be left between 

 the plants. M. alpestris and M. azorica make beautiful pot-plants for 

 the decoration of windows and conservatories. The latter species also 

 does well on the rockery. M. 2Mlustri8 should be planted wherever 

 there is water. 

 Descriptton of Myosotis alpestris, the Alpine Forget-me-not, of the 



Plate 194. natural size. Fig. 1 is an unopened bud, enlarged ; 2, an 

 enlarged flower ; 3, the same in section ; 4, the nutlet, commonly called 

 " seed," natural size and enlarged ; 5, a seedling. 



