# Myosotis laxa

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Species of flowering plant

Myosotis laxa Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Boraginales Family: Boraginaceae Genus: Myosotis Species: M. laxa Binomial name Myosotis laxa Lehm. Synonyms[2] Myosotis cespitosa var. laxa (Lehm.) DC. Myosotis palustris var. laxa (Lehm.) A.Gray Myosotis scorpioides subsp. baltica (Lehm.) Hegi Myosotis scorpioides subsp. laxa (Lehm.) Hegi

***Myosotis laxa*** is a species of [flowering herb](/source/Flowering_plant) in the family [Boraginaceae](/source/Boraginaceae).[2][3] This species of [forget-me-not](/source/Forget-me-not) is known by several common names, including **tufted forget-me-not**, **bay forget-me-not**, **small-flower forget-me-not**,[4] **small-flowered forget-me-not, and smaller forget-me-knot**.[5] It has a [circumboreal distribution](/source/Circumboreal_Region), occurring throughout some parts of the [Northern Hemisphere](/source/Northern_Hemisphere). It grows in many types of habitats, including moist and wet areas, and is sometimes [aquatic](/source/Aquatic_plant), growing in shallow water.[5]

The American naturalist and poet [Henry David Thoreau](/source/Henry_David_Thoreau) described *Myosotis laxa* as:

The mouse-ear forget-me-not, *Myosotis laxa*, has now extended its racemes (?) very much, and hangs over the edge of the brook. It is one of the most interesting minute flowers. It is the more beautiful for being small and unpretending; even flowers must be modest.[6]

## Description

The life cycle of *Myosotis laxa* can vary between an annual, biennial[7], and brief-lived perennial. It typically flowers May through September.[5]

*Myosotis laxa* closely resembles *[Myosotis scorpioides](/source/Myosotis_scorpioides)* L. but has two main identifying features. First, its corolla is smaller than *M. scorpioides* at 2 to 5 mm. wide and 5 to 10 mm. wide, respectively. Additionally, the style in *M. laxa* consistently surpasses the nutlet, while in *M. scorpioides* it does not. Generally, the leaves of *M. laxa* are smaller than *M. scorpiodes*, but this trait may vary between individuals[5].

The calyx of both *M. laxa* and *M. scorpioides* are characteristically covered in [strigose](/source/Strigose) hairs, while other *[Myosotis](/source/Myosotis)* species are not. *M. laxa* is typically 10 to 40 cm. tall and decumbent, or prostrate, at its base. The [inflorescence](/source/Inflorescence) is terminal and the calyx is 3 to 5 mm. wide. Sometimes the calyx lobes are unequal in length and can be shorter or longer than the tube. The corolla is the light blue color, characteristic of the forget-me-nots, but can rarely be white or even yellow.[5]

*M. laxa* is also known to have a coastal form that has been reported in the [Baltic Sea Region](/source/Baltic_Sea_Region), [Caspian Sea](/source/Caspian_Sea), north central [Asia](/source/Asia), [Altai](/source/Altai_Republic), and [Mongolia](/source/Mongolia). However, studies have found that this form does not arise in relation to coastal distance, suggesting it could appear in any suitable habitat.[8]

## Subspecies

Two subspecies of *Myosotis laxa* have been described: ***M. laxa*** **subsp. *baltica* (Sam.) Hyl. ex Nordh**. and ***M. laxa* subsp. *cespitosa* (Schultz) Hyl. ex Nordh***.* These subspecies are known to be morphologically variable, and individuals are often found displaying traits of both.[9]

*Myosotis laxa* subsp. *baltica* was once considered a separate species, named *Myosotis baltica*, but has since been genetically recognized as a subspecies of *M. laxa* and more likely a coastal ecotype. *M. laxa* subsp. *baltica* is endemic to the Baltic Sea Region and is most common in the [Åland Islands](/source/%C3%85land) and [Finland](/source/Finland). It portrays characteristics of living in a variable coastal habitat with larger seeds, earlier flowering times, rare lower branching, greater stem diameter, an annual life cycle, and longer pedicels while fruiting when compared to *M. laxa* subsp. *cespitosa.*[9]

*M. laxa* subsp. *cespitosa* has a broader range than subsp. *baltica* and can be found throughout temperate [Eurasia](/source/Eurasia) to northern [Africa](/source/Africa). While its conservation status is unknown or of least concern in most countries, it is on the [IUCN Red List](/source/IUCN_Red_List) in [Czechia](/source/Czech_Republic).[10] When compared to *M. laxa* subsp. *baltica* it is described as having a stronger stem and can vary between an annual, biennial, or perennial life cycle. Additionally, the subspecies often does not have leaves in the inflorescence and is more strongly branched in the upper portion of the plant than subsp. *baltica*.[9]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-IUCN_1-0)** Lansdown, R.V. (2013). ["*Myosotis laxa*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164400/13537638). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2013** e.T164400A13537638. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T164400A13537638.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T164400A13537638.en). Retrieved June 14, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-POWO_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-POWO_2-1) ["Myosotis laxa Lehm"](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:119082-1). *Plants of the World Online*. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved June 14, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-COL_3-0)** ["Myosotis laxa Lehm"](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/KVLNV). *Catalogue of Life*. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved June 14, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Lee, Sangtae; Chang, Kae Sun, eds. (2015). [*English Names for Korean Native Plants*](http://www.forest.go.kr/kna/special/download/English_Names_for_Korean_Native_Plants.pdf) (PDF). Pocheon: [Korea National Arboretum](/source/Korea_National_Arboretum). p. 543. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-89-97450-98-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-89-97450-98-5). Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via [Korea Forest Service](/source/Korea_Forest_Service).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_5-4) Gleason, Henry A.; Cronquist, Arthur (1991). *Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada* (2nd ed.). Bronx, N.Y., USA: New York Botanical Garden. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-89327-365-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89327-365-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-se_6-0)** Thoreau, Henry David; Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1884), [*The Writings of Henry David Thoreau*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_14dAAAAIAAJ), Houghton, Mifflin and company, p. 109

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** McGregor, Ronald L.; Barkley, T. M.; Great Plains Flora Association (U.S.), eds. (1986). *Flora of the Great Plains*. Lawrence, Kan: University Press of Kansas. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7006-0295-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7006-0295-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Kook, Ene; Pihu, Silvia; Reier, Ülle; Thetloff, Marge; Aavik, Tsipe; Helm, Aveliina (April 2016). ["Do Landscape Dissimilarity and Environmental Factors Affect Genetic and Phenotypic Variability in Myosotis laxa s. lato (Boraginaceae)?"](http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.5735/085.053.0211). *Annales Botanici Fennici*. **53** (1–2): 56–66. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5735/085.053.0211](https://doi.org/10.5735%2F085.053.0211). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0003-3847](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0003-3847).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_9-2) Pihu, Silvia; Öpik, Maarja; Kook, Ene; Reier, Ülle (2011). ["Morphological and genetic relationships of Myosotis laxa ssp. baltica and ssp. caespitosa, and typification of M. laxa ssp. baltica"](https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/asbp.2009.006). *Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae*. **78** (1): 37–49. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5586/asbp.2009.006](https://doi.org/10.5586%2Fasbp.2009.006). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2083-9480](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2083-9480).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Stešević, Danijela; Stanišić-Vujačić, Milica; Milanović, Đorđije; Šilc, Urban (2024-07-01). ["On the distribution and conservation status of some Mediterranean species new for the flora of Montenegro"](https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/hacquetia/article/view/13547). *Hacquetia*. **24** (1): 83–94. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3986/hacq-2025-0004](https://doi.org/10.3986%2Fhacq-2025-0004). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1854-9829](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1854-9829).

## External links

- [Jepson Manual Treatment](http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?2030,2156,2159)

- [Photo gallery](http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Myosotis+laxa)

Taxon identifiers Myosotis laxa Wikidata: Q2131873 Wikispecies: Myosotis laxa APDB: 132824 APNI: 116549 Calflora: 5723 CoL: 455Y6 CNPS: 2332 EoL: 580084 EPPO: MYOLX EUNIS: 161988 GBIF: 5341182 GRIN: 454224 iNaturalist: 78150 IPNI: 119082-1 IRMNG: 10200413 ITIS: 31691 IUCN: 164400 MichiganFlora: 586 NatureServe: 2.137595 NBN: NHMSYS0000460816 NCBI: 192342 NSWFlora: Myosotis~laxa NZOR: 601ddf0e-0b2e-4552-8550-368c140f62f5 Observation.org: 131593 Open Tree of Life: 760140 Plant List: kew-2358174 PLANTS: MYLA POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:119082-1 Tropicos: 4001509 VASCAN: 3803 VicFlora: c276aa9c-1708-4eb2-8172-547842d60c60 WisFlora: 4300 WFO: wfo-0000368476

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