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Forget-Me-Not's Lesson of Humility

 It is an adolescent instinct to make everything in life about yourself. For example, at the university greenhouse where I volunteer, two staff members have recently been promoted to new positions. I thought, initially, that it would be a fine idea to give them farewell cards that I made. As a personal touch the cards would feature one of my own photos of forget-me-not flowers, with its implicit message. I intended to include inside the cards a packet of forget-me-not seeds. Clever, no?  I could even make it seem more inclusive of everyone in the department if I wrote a comment saying forget-us-not rather than forget-me-not.

What could be more friendly than the presentation of these pretty blue flowers?  I'll address the problem with my thought further below. But, put that aside for the moment and let's carry on with the plan.

Forget-me-not flowers (the photo taken on our recent visit to Muir Woods, CA)

Due diligence

To ensure the flower seeds were going to be acceptable to plant in our region of the country I sought the advice of the universal source of knowledge, my Google search engine. At the time of this writing, my  query for "forget-me-not in Minnesota" resulted in the Google's AI statement: "Yes, forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica) are native to Minnesota and are considered a cool season annual plant." However, by reading additional internet sources I found this statement does not reflect reality. 

Several web sites indicate that the most prevalent species of Myosotis in Minnesota were non-native. They include M. sylvatica (woodland forget-me-not) and M. scorpioides (aquatic forget-me-not). These two are both from Eurasia. They were introduced by Europeans, and are said to now be naturalized in North America, meaning they are very common in the landscape.

Naturalized versus invasive

Evidently, the difference between these two words, naturalized and invasive, has to do with damage to the environment. If the plants is harming other plant species it is considered invasive. At the website for the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, the State lists the aquatic forget-me-not as invasive to the point that the plant "cannot be transferred, transported, or introduced without a permit." In many parts of the Wisconsin the plant is choking out native plants along waterways and bogs.

Wisconsin isn't very far away from Minnesota.

Forget-me-nots crowding in on wetland ferns near Muir Woods, CA

Mysotis, the genus

The genus name of Mysotis means "mouse ear" after the shape and hairy texture of the leaves. The aquatice species M. scorpioides is so-named because the curl of the flower bud stem is shaped like a scorpion's tail. Woodland Mysotis is named "sylvatica" which means "things to do with forests."

Worldwide, there are 150 species of Myosotis, mostly limited to the Northern Hemisphere, with a few species adapted to the Southern Hemisphere places such as New Zealand.

Minnesota and North America in general, does have a native species called M. laxa-Lehm, or the "small forget-me-not." This plant has flowers which are about half the size of the invasive species. This native species of Myosotis is not commonly found and probably not cultivated due to its diminutive flower.

Hairy mouse-ear leaves of Myosotis

The problems with my plan

Although the initial thought was to recognize the persons who were moving on to new positions, but the execution of the thought seems 1) to be a bit self-centered by bringing the attention back to "me;" and 2) not a good idea to be giving a packet of seed for a highly invasive plant. Especially considering the new positions are in horticulture and the care of plant collections. Blush.

I'll have to think of some other way to recognize the accomplishment of someone other than...me.

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