Forget-Me-Not

Myosotis sylvatica (Woodland forget-me-not)

The botanical name comes from the classic Greek word for the genus, muosōtis, from mus- ‘mouse’ +ous, ōt- ‘ear’. The specific epithet sylvatica means “of the forest” or woodland.  So, mouse-eared plant of the woodland. 

As for the common name, it comes from the German Vergiss-mein-nicht and/or from the French ne m’oubliez pas. 

According to German legend, a knight and his lady were strolling along the riverside when the woman spotted a patch of exquisite blue flowers. She asked the knight to pick her a bouquet but as he leaned down, he lost his balance and fell into the river. As he drifted away he called out “forget me not!”.  Ever since, the flower has represented lasting love and remembrance.  

Another German story is that the name was chosen when God was naming flowers; this one was the last, and the flower cried out, “Forget me not, O Lord,” to which God pronounced, “That shall be your name!”

Forget-Me-Nots give a lot and do not ask for much in return – and can survive in reasonable soil with little moisture. As a biennial, they only need a tiny patch of ground to germinate prolifically in late spring, content to grow their roots and develop a small rosette of leaves in the first summer.

More interestingly, Forget-me-nots have evolved in order to attract pollinators. The plants are protogynous, which means the flowers initially have a female phase, then a male phase. With a nod to the scientific bits which includes reference to the corolla (petals), calyx and sepals (a whorl that encloses the petals and forms a protective layer around a flower in bud) and which I don’t really understand, the amazing thing is that around the opening to the corolla is a fleshy yellow ring which is a nectar guide! Once a bee has spotted that yellow ring and zeroed in, the plant has ensured its succession as it is subsequently pollinated.  And, even more clever, is that once the flower has been pollinated, the yellow ring fades to a creamy brown – a signal to other bees that there is no longer any nectar.
​
There are plenty of flowers that use colour changes to communicate with pollinators – bearing in mind that pollinators see colours differently that perceived by humans:

• Bees: Bees can see ultraviolet light and are attracted to blue, yellow, and UV-reflecting patterns.
• Butterflies: Butterflies are drawn to bright colours like red, orange, pink, and purple.
• Birds: Birds are attracted to red, orange, and pink flowers.

Therefore, bright colours may signal that the flower is full of nectar and will attract more bees and butterflies into the garden.  Here are a few examples of plants to add to the garden:

Lantana (Lantana camara) – Yellow Sage

• Color Change: Yellow → Orange → Red.
• Reason: Young flowers are yellow, signalling high nectar availability. As the nectar is depleted, the flowers turn red, a less attractive colour for pollinators.

Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)

• Colour Change: Blue → Purple.
• Reason: Indicates age or environmental stress, signalling pollinators to focus on younger, more viable blooms.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

• Colour Change: Bright Pink → Darker Red.
• Reason: Flowers change colour after pollination, deterring further visits.

Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

• Colour Change: Purple or Violet → Blue.
• Reason: As the flower ages, it signals that it is past its peak nectar production.

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

• Colour Change: Yellow → Pink.
• Reason: The central part of the flower changes from yellow to pink once pollination has occurred, indicating that pollinators should move to another flower.

So, flower colour changes are both visually attractive and a testament to the magic of Mother Nature.  Dead clever!!