Myosotis pulvinaris
Common name
cushion forget-me-not
Synonyms
Myosotis hectorii Hook.f.
Family
Boraginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
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.
MYOPUL
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: Central Otago
Habitat
Alpine to high alpine. Found in fell field, cushion bog, on the margins of solifluction lobes and in fine, stable scree. Rarely present in rubble at the bases of schist outcrops and tors.
Features
Many-branched tufted silvery-grey to grey-green perennial forming compact rounded cushions up to 100 mm diameter, adventitious roots from branches. Stems 10-30 mm long, crowded, more or less erect, closely covered with imbricating leaves, the whole twig 5-10 mm diameter. Leaves c. 5-7 × 3-5 mm, the very broad-oblong lamina slightly narrowed to membranous sheathing base, tip very broad-obtuse; hairs long, silky, crowded, more or less appressed. Flowering lateral branches very short, often hidden, with a few narrow oblong leaves surrounding the solitary terminal almost sessile flower. Calyx c.3 mm long, lobes cut to half calyx length, subacute, finely hairy within, long soft hairs forming a complete cover outside. Corolla white, c.6 mm diameter, tube 4-5 mm long, lobes c.2 × 2 mm, broadly rounded, flat, overlapping at sinus; filaments short, anthers up to 1.5 mm long, tips protruding just above rather large scales; style 2-3× calyx, stigma capitate. Nutlets 1.3-1.9 × 0.8-1.1 mm, ovate-elliptic to oblong-elliptic, dark black.
Similar taxa
The compact, silvery-grey to grey-green, hairy cushion-forming growth habit of Myosotis pulvinaris is unique to this species and it is unlikely to be confused with any other except the yellow-flowered M. uniflora. From sterile specimens of that species, the white-flowered M. pulvinaris can be easily distinguished by its boardly spathulate rather than narrowly elliptic leaves.
Flowering
November - January
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
December - April
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
pulvinaris: From the Latin pulvinar ‘a cushion’ and -aris ‘resembling’, meaning resembling a cushio i.e. convex or or rather flattened
Where To Buy
Not commercially Available
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange. Description based on Allan (1961).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Goverment Printer, Wellington.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis pulvinaris Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-pulvinaris/ (Date website was queried)