WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and fairly common throughout the UK, though often local. Habitat includes: open grassland, meadows, pastures, moorland edge, marshes, dune-slacks, arable field margins, roadside verges, railway tracks, old quarries, pavements etc.

Stace 4:

Myosotis discolor Pers. - Changing Forget-me-not.

Erect, patent-hairy annual to 25cm; differs from M. ramosissima in corolla ≤4mm across, yellow to white at first, then pink to blue, with tube usually lengthening to longer than calyx; calyx-lobes usually oblong-lanceolate. Native; similar places to M. ramosissima but common also in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and in North Britain also in damp places, marshes and dune-slacks. The relative distributions of the sspp. are not known.

Key:

• Calyx with some hairs patent and distally hooked or at least strongly curved
• Annual, without sterile shoots at fruiting
• Pedicels shorter than to almost as long as fruiting calyx
• Corolla cream to yellow at first (rarely white), with tube eventually longer than calyx; pollen grains 17.5-20 x 17.5-20µm

Useful Links:

Naturespot

Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora

Kew

GBIF

NBN