FORGET ME NOT, OR MYOSOTIS 
PALUSTRIS. 
This plant is named myosotis from mus, 
a rat, and ous otos, an ear. Its oval, velvety 
leaves are like the ears of a rat or mouse. It 
is a well-known sentimental flower, will grow 
everywhere, and varies more than most plants 
with situation. On dry walls and rubbish, it 
is dwarfish, rough, and hairy, not rising when 
in flower more than two or three inches ; in 
muddy ditches it is smooth all over, of a 
shining light green, and two or three feet high. 
In common soils, as in a garden, or loamy 
corn field, it assumes an intermediate character. 
This beautiful little flower, which adorns 
every spot where it grows, with its corollas of 
celestial blue, has become celebrated by a 
German tale of extraordinary romance. It is 
related that a youthful pair who were on the 
eve of being united in marriage, whilst 
walking along the delightful banks of the 
Danube, saw one of those lovely flowers 
floating on the waves, which seemed ready to 
carry it away. The affianced bride admired 
the beauty of the flower, and regretted its 
fatal destiny, which induced the lover to 
precipitate himself into the water; when he 
had no sooner seized the flower than lie sunk 
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