Myosotis arvensis
Common names
field forget-me-not
Family
Boraginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
MYOARV
Conservation status
Not applicable
Distribution
Naturalised (Indigenous to Europe and western Asia). Present in North, South, Stewart Islands
Habitat
Rather common. A widespread weed of waste places, cultivated land, and other open, modified habitats also locally common in damp sites in tussock grassland. Altitudinal range sea level to c.1000 m.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FACU: Facultative Upland
Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Annual to biennial herb. Stems numerous and erect, up to c.300 mm high, angled. Lower leaves sessile, to c.80 × 20 mm, oblanceolate to oblong, hairy on both surfaces; hairs not hooked; apex obtuse; upper leaves similar but smaller. Cymes ebracteate, elongating to slightly greater than leafy part of stem after flowering. Pedicels 1 to nearly 3× length of calyx at fruiting. Calyx 3-5 mm long, elongating to c.7 mm at fruiting; hairs spreading, often hooked towards base; lobes ± triangular, cut to about half the length of calyx. Corolla tube less than calyx-length; limb c.3 mm diameter, concave, blue; lobes entire. Style very short. Nutlets 1.5-2.5 × 0.75-1.0 mm, ovoid, acute, dark brown or black; rim present. Description from: Webb et al. (1988).
Flowering
October - May
Flower colours
Blue, White
Fruiting
November - June
Threats
Myosotis arvensis is a naturalised weed in New Zealand. It was first recognised in New Zealand in 1872. although rather weedy it is not regarded as a serious environmental weed. Its impacts (if any) on our indigenous ecosystems have probably happened a long time ago in the early stages of its naturalisation.
Year naturalised
1872
Origin
Europe, W. Asia
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
arvensis: Growing in arable fields
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 February 2008. Description based on Webb et al. (1988)
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
References and further reading
Webb CJ, Sykes WR, Garnock-Jones PJ 1988. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis arvensis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-arvensis/ (Date website was queried)