beautifulflowers032840mbp

62 BEAUTIFUL FLOWEBS OF KASHMIB [Plate 45
MYOSOTIS, Linn.
The Forget-me-not.
(Myosotis from the Greek mys, a mouse, and ous, otos,
alluding to the leaves.)
the ear,
A. Hairs of stem spreading.
I. Flower-stalks longer than the calyx.
1. Corolla J-i in. diameter. Limb
flat ... ... ... M. sylvatica.
2. Corolla ^-i in. diameter. Limb
concave
M. arvensis.
II. Flower-stalks shorter than the calyx M. stricta.
B. Hairs of stem not spreading (lying flat) ... M. caespitosa.
Pig. 4. Myosotis sylvatica, Hoffm. Wood Forget-me-not.
(Sylvatica refers to the woodland habitat of this species.)
Stems up to 2 ft. high, with spreading hairs, usually growing
in dense clumps, erect, branching above. Leaves oblong,
lance-shaped, Ij by J in., lowest broader and stalked. Flowers
a beautiful pale blue, borne on large, loose, one-sided racemes
on stalks, usually longer than the calyx. Calyx 5-tid, divided
more than half its length, lobes unequal, spreading, but erect
in fruit. Corolla i-i in. diameter, limb flat, longer than the
tube, which is straight. Nutlets 4, brown, keeled, attached
by the narrow end.
Flowers. May to August-
Locality. Gulmarg, margs, about 8,000 ft., common ;
Tangmarg in forest, 7,200-8,700 ft., abundant ; Khelanmarg,
10,000 Basam ft. ;
Gali in stony ground, above 10,000 ft.
Distribution. Alpine W. Himalaya, from Kashmir to
Kumaon, 7,000-12,000 ft., arctic Europe, Canaries, Siberia,
Dahuria, W. Asia.
Myosotis arvensis, Hoffm. Field Forget-me-not, Field
Scorpion Grass.
(Arvensis used in allusion to the predilection of this plant for
cultivated land.)
Stems erect, many, 6-18 in. high, with spreading hairs.
Lower leaves stalked, oblong, blunt, upper sharp-pointed.
Flowers blue, bell-shaped. Flower-stalks longer than the
calyx. Calyx 5-fid, cleft to the middle, with spreading hairs,
lobes lance-shaped. Corolla i-i in. diameter, limb concave,
a8 long as the tube. Style very short. Nutlets* small,
flattened at the sides, brown, bordered, keeled in front.
Locality. Subalpine regions.
Distribution. Kashmir, Afghanistan, from Siberia to
Europe and N. Africa,