The Forget-me-nots are the genus Myosotis of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae.
There are about 50 species in the genus, and among them there is considerable variation. Nevertheless a considerable number of the species fit the same description, of a small (1 cm diameter or less) rather flat 5-petalled blue flower growing profusely on straggly stems, flowering in spring. Colour variation is somewhat frequent within species, and white or pink forms are quite likely to be seen. They are popular in gardens, and cultivated forms often show a mixture of colours. The forget-me-nots need shade, not sun.
Forget-me-nots can be annual or perennial plants. Their root systems are generally diffuse. Their seeds are found in small, tulip shaped pods along the stem to the flower. The pods attach to clothing when brushed against and eventually fall off, leaving the small seed within to germinate elsewhere. Seeds can be collected by putting a piece of paper under the stems and shaking them. The seed pods and some seeds will fall out.
They are widely distributed. Most Myosotis species are endemic to New Zealand, though one or two EuropeanWood Forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica have been introduced in most of the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and America. Myosotis scorpioides is also known as scorpion grass. species, especially the
In the United States of America, the forget-me-not is the state flower of Alaska, precisely the Myosotis alpestris.
Forget-me-nots are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Setaceous Hebrew Character.
The name
The name was borrowed from Old French "ne m'oubliez pas" and first used in English in c.1532. Loans and translations of it can be found in most European and some non-E
uropean languages, like German "Vergissmeinnicht", Italian "Nontiscordardimé", Polish "Niezapominajka", Slovak "Nezábudky", Danish "Forglem-mig-ej", Icelandic "Gleym-mér-ei", Swedish "Förgätmigej", Dutch "vergeet-mij-nietje", Spanish "no-me-olvides", Russian "Незабудки", Bulgarian “Незабравки”, Lithuanian "Neužmirštuolės", Greek "Μη με λησμονείς" (also connected to the peop
le who died during the 1974 events in Cyprus), Esperanto "neforgesumino", Chinese "勿忘草" (Mandarin: wù wàng cǎo)
, Korean "물망초" (勿忘草, mul mang cho), Japanese "勿忘草" (Wasurenagusa), Hebrew "זכריני" (Zichrini), Hungarian "Nefelejcs", Turkish "Unutma Beni", Albanian "Lule-
mos-me-harro", Czech "Pomněnka" etc.
In the 15th century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers.
Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not". This is a flower connected with roman
ce and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.
It is also told in pious legend that the Christ Child was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see them. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared, hence the name forget-me-not.
Forget-me-not in remembrance
The Forget-me-not are traditionally worn by Newfoundlanders on July 1st in remembrance of those Newfoundlanders who died during the First World War. July 1 was chosen because of the high number of casualties suffered by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment on 1 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.
Selected species
- Myosotis alpestris - Alpine Forget-me-not
- Myosotis alpina
- Myosotis arvensis - Field Forget-me-not
- Myosotis australis
- Myosotis azorica
- Myosotis caespitosa - Tufted Forget-me-not
- Myosotis colensoi
- Myosotis discolor - Changing Forget-me-not
- Myosotis ramosissima - Early Forget-me-not
- Myosotis scorpioides - Water Forget-me-not
- Myosotis secunda - Creeping Forget-me-not
- Myosotis sicula - Jersey Forget-me-not
- Myosotis sylvatica - Wood Forget-me-not
i want to buy ne he he ^^ , but where can i find these ?
