Myposotis. LIIl, BORAGINE. 313 
lower shady situations, and in our gardens, the stems will attain a foot or 
more in length, with rather small flowers. The alpine form, with larger 
flowers, is by some distinguished as a species, under the name of J. alpes- 
tris, Schmith. It is extremely rare, and confined to the high mountains of 
Perthshire, Teesdale, and Westmoreland, 
3, M.arvensis, Hoffm., (fig. 699). Meld Myosote.—An annual or 
sometimes biennial, with a weak stem often above a foot long. It has the 
hairy foliage and deeply cleft calyx of M. sylvatica, but the corolla, al- 
though variable, is much smaller, with a short concave limb. Calyx 
shorter than the pedicels, or scarcely so long even when in fruit, with nar- 
row segments, erect when in fruit. 
On hedge-banks, in cultivated ground, the edges of woods, and bushy 
places, throughout Europe and central and northern Asia, and in North 
America. The most common species all over Britain. . all summer and 
autumn. Some of the large-flowered specimens are difficult to distinguish 
in the dried state from the smaller-flowered ones of WZ. sylvatica, but when 
fresh I have never observed any really intermediate forms. 
4, WE. collina, Hoftm. (fig. 700). Harly Myosote.—A low, much branched, 
hairy annual, seldom attaining 6 inches ; the leaves mostly collected in radi- 
cal tufts, with a few at the base of the flowering branches, which consist 
chiefly of the slender racemes ; the pedicels seldom above a line long. Calyx, 
when dry, exactly like that of M. arvensis, but in the living plant its seg- 
ments are spreading, not erect, after flowering. Corolla very small, of a 
bright blue, with a small, concave limb. 
On dry, open places, in central and southern Europe, to the Caucasus and 
the western Himalaya. Not frequent in Britain, but apparently more so in 
the south of England than further to the north, and is also found in eastern 
Ireland. Fl. early summer, and dies soon after. A white-flowered and 
more permanent variety, M. Mitten, is often cultivated. Occasional inter- 
mediate forms excite some doubts as to whether this be really specifically 
distinct from M. arvensis. 
| 5, M. versicolor, Pers., (fig. 701). Changing Myosote.—A little hairy 
-annual, with a more simple and erect stem than any of the foregoing, from 
a few inches to near a foot high, with a spreading tuft of radical leaves, and 
afew erect ones along the stem. Flowers small and nearly sessile; the 
calyx-segments quite closed over the fruit after flowering ; the corolla small, 
at first pale yellow, and turning blue as it fades. 
On banks, in meadows and pastures, in central and southern Europe and 
western Asia, extending northwards into Scandinavia. Abundant in Britain. 
Fl, spring. 
VI. ANCHUSA. ALKANET. 
Coarse, hairy biennials or perennials, with rather large blue flowers, in 
one-sided spikes, with a bract under each flower. Calyx deeply 5-cleft. 
Corolla with a straight tube, often slightly enlarged at the top, and closed 
at the mouth by usually hairy scales; the limb spreading and 5-lobed. 
Stamens included in the tube. Nuts rather large, wrinkled, angular, at- 
tached by their broad, concave base. 
