liOttAGINE^. 



583 



Fig. 695. 



4. Early Myosote. Myosotis collina, Hoffm. (Tig. 695.) 

 (M. arvensis, Eng. Bot. t. 2558/ 



A low, much branched, hairy annual, 

 seldom attaining 6 inches ; the leaves 

 mostly collected in radical tufts, with a 

 few at the base of the flowering branch- 

 es, which consist chiefly of the slender 

 racemes; the pedicels seldom above a 

 line long. Calyx, when dry, exactly like 

 that of the field M., but in the living 

 plant its segments 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 so frequent 

 in Britain, but apparently more so in the 

 south of England than further to the 

 north, and is also found in Ireland. 



FL early summer^ and dies soon after. A white-flowered and more 

 permanent variety is often cultivated. Occasional intermediate forms 

 excite some doubts as to whether this be really specifically distinct 

 from the field M. 



5. Changing Myosote. Myosotis versicolor, Pers. 



(Eig. 696.) 



(Jf. scorpioides, Eng. Bot. t. 480. f. 1.) 



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 radi- 

 cal leaves, and a few erect ones along 

 the stem. Elowers small and nearly 

 sessile ; the calyx-segments quite closed 

 over the fruit after flowering ; the co- 

 rolla 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 in- 

 to Scandinavia. Abundant in Britain. 

 FL spring. 



Fig. 696. 



