Myosotis pottsiana
Common names
Potts’s forget-me-not
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Detailed description
Short-lived, loosely branched, hairy perennial herb. Petioles slender, 20–40mm long, narrowly winged margins fringed by long, spreading hairs. Rosette leaves 15–25 × 10–17mm, orbicular to spathulate, leaf apex obtuse, usually apiculate, dark green above with darker green or maroon veins, pale below, lamina surfaces sparsely covered in widely spaced, short, straight, stiff, ± appressed hairs. Lateral branches occasional, 60–350mm long, producing offset rosettes. Stem leaves broad to narrow oval, becoming smaller toward branch apices. Inflorescence simple, flowers without subtending leafy bracts. Calyx 3–5mm long, lobed almost to base, lobes narrowly acute, spreading in fruit, hairs short and stiff. Corolla white, 9–12mm diameter, tube cylindric, twice as long as wide, corolla scales well above calyx tips; stamens shorter than corolla. Nutlets 1.2–1.4 × 1.2–1.9mm, ovate to broadly ovate, glossy black-brown to black.
Similar taxa
Allied to Myosotis pansa which occurs as two subspecies on the west coast of North Island from Muriwai to northern Taranaki. Myosotis pansa differs from M. pottsiana by larger, wide funnel-like flowers (corolla 10-15 mm diameter), and by corolla scales at or below the calyx tips. Myosotis pottsiana is more likely to be confused with the vegetatively similar M. forsteri which grows in similar habitats. Flowering specimens of M. forsteri can be distinguished by their much smaller flowers with scarcely projecting anthers and style. Field recognition: tufted rosette of green mottled leaves on long thin petioles and plants often grouped into loose colonies
Distribution
Endemic. Known from scattered sites in the southern Raukumara Range (Waioeka Gorge) and from the Galatea Hills, and adjacent, western portion of Te Urewera.
Habitat
A species of riverside banks and gorges, usually in areas prone to occasional flooding
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, Sp
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Myosotis petiolata L.B.Moore var. pottsiana
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
Flowers can be present throughout the year but are more commonly seen from spring through summer
Fruiting
Seed can be present throughout the year.
Propagation technique
Easily grown from seed. Plants are short-lived but readily set seed. In cultivation this species often “naturalises” in gardens.
Other information
Cultivation
Occasionally available from specialist native plant nurseries.
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
Chromosome number
2n = 44
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: Ef, Sp
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, EF
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, EF
2004 | Data Deficient
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Goverment Printer, Wellington.
de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Norton, D.A.; Rolfe, J.R.; Sawyer, J.W.D. 2010: Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.
Meudt, H.M.; Prebble, J.M.; Stanley, R.J.; Thorsen, M.J. 2013: Morphological and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data show that New Zealand endemic Myosotis petiolata
(Boraginaceae) comprises three rare and threatened species. Australian Systematic Botany 26: 210-232.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared by NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 February 2008. Description subsequently published in de Lange et al. (2010). For a more recent assessment see Meudt et al. (2013).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis pottsiana Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-pottsiana/ (Date website was queried)