Myosotis rakiura
Common names
Stewart Island forget-me-not
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
Stout, tufted somewhat fleshy-succulent perennial herb. Rosette-leaves oblong-spathulate, up to 200 × 20 mm, tips rounded and obtuse, margins ± revolute, lamina gradually narrowed into broad. flat, somewhat succulent petiole, this usually less than lamina-length; hairs short, silky and spreading, very crowded, those on undersurface retrorse except near leaf-tip. Lateral branches few to many, ascending to erect, rather stout, up to 450 mm long, sometimes branched, internodes mostly equal to or less than leaf-length. Stem-leaves many, c.20-40 × 10-14 mm, ± oblong and obtuse; hairs like those of rosette-leaves but retrorse on undersurface only near base of lowermost leaves. Cymes ebracteate and usually several times branched, many-flowered, reaching 40 mm long in fruit; internodes and pedicels very short. Calyx 4-5 mm long, lobes cut to greater than half calyx length, rather broad, obtuse; hairs copious, rather short, flexuous, towards base irregularly hooked or sometimes retrorse. Corolla white, c.6-8 mm diameter, tube 3-5 mm long, cylindric, lobes spreading, c.2.5 × 2.5 mm, broadly oblong; filaments fixed just below scales, short but greater than anthers in length; anthers 1 mm long, broad, wholly above scales; style slightly longer than calyx in fruit, stigma capitate. Nutlet 1.7-2.1 × 1,1-1.4 mm, ovate, ovate-elliptic to broadly ovate, black.
Similar taxa
Myosotis rakiura is easily recognised by the combination of having stamens whose filaments are about the same length as the anthers, rosette-leaves which are broader than the stem leaves, an abundance of retrorse hairs on the leaf undersides, otherwise with hairs flexuous rather than straight, and not smoothly appressed. These features place it close to M. macrantha from which it differs by its ecological restriction to coastal rather than alpine habitats, much branched inflorescences; white flowers with a short tube, and calyces 4-5 mm rather than 6-9 mm long in fruiting material.
Distribution
Endemic. South (coasts of east and south Southland), Stewart and Snares Islands (also islands of Foveaux Strait including Solander Island).
Habitat
Coastal in open to partially shaded sites on rocks, cliff faces, in sand flats and in coastal turf bordering streams
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
Threats
Not threatened. Myosotis rakiura is a widespread and at times locally common species on Stewart Island, it is however scarce in its South Island habitats. This species is listed only because it naturally occupies a small geographic area. As far as is known there are no serious threats affecting this species.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Myosotis capitata Hook.f. var. albiflora J.B.Armst.; Myosotis capitata Hook.f. subsp. albida Kirk; Myosotis albida (Kirk) Cheeseman nom. illegit. (non Myosotis albida Kunth)
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November - January
Fruiting
January - February
Propagation technique
An attractive and easily grown native forget-me-not. It grows well in a moist but free draining soil. While it can tolerate full sun it does best in semi-shade. Fresh seed germinates readily, and plants once established, freely set seed, producing numerous seedlings. However, in humid climates plants are prone to powdery mildew infections, and like many other indigenous forget-me-nots plants are prone rust infections, which make the leaves swollen and unsightly.
Other information
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
rakiura: Named after the Maori name for Stewart Island. Rakiura is derived from raki ‘sky’ and ura ‘glowing’ or ‘blush’. One explanation for the name is because of the beautiful sunsets seen from the Island. Another possible explanation is the name is derived from Te Ura-Te Raki-tamou ‘the blush of Te Raki Tamou, in reference to a story of the shame of a Maori chief who went to the island to court a woman and subsequently found out she had a husband.
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.
MYORAK
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2025 | Regionally Threatened – Regionally Endangered | Qualifiers: DPT, NR, PF, RR
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation Status of Indigenous Vascular Plants in Otago, 2025” Jarvie S et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Goverment Printer, Wellington.
Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Reed PUblishing. Auckland.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 February 2008. Description based on Allan (1961).
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.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis rakiura Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-rakiura/ (Date website was queried)