The forget-me-not also referred to as the scorpion grass, is an invasive herb, commonly found in various regions of the world. There are over 500 species of this plant, the majority of which have the characteristic blue petals. Its unique name gave birth to many legends and gave the flower symbolic importance.
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It belongs to the genus Myosotis of the family Boraginaceae.
It includes various blue-flowered plants, such as Siberian Bugloss, or the annual borage.
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The genus name–Myosotis–derives from the Ancient Greek and means mouse ears.
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The forget-me-nots can be confused with giant forget-me-nots.
The latter belongs to the genus Myosotidium and is represented by one species, Myosotidium hortensia, which resembles the forget-me-not. It is an endemic species of New Zealand.
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Depending on the species, it can be an annual, perennial, or biennial plant.
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It is a widespread plant, common in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.
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The stems of forget-me-not can reach up to 0,5 meters, and their leaves grow up to five centimeters.
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There are over 500 species of scorpion grasses.
Most of them have five blue petals, but white or pink also can be encountered.
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The common English name, forget-me-not, appeared for the first time in the 1500s.
The French equivalent–souvenez-vous de moi–was used by King Henry IV during his banishment in 1398.
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It is the official flower of Alaska and Dalsland in Sweden.
The alpine forget-me-not has become an official Alaskan state flower in 1949.
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There are several legends surrounding the name of the plant.
One of the most popular ones tells a story about a German couple. During their romantic stroll on a sunny day, a girl noticed blue flowers and asked her companion to pick them up for her. The flower grew on a steep edge of a nearby river, and unfortunately, the boy fell into the river while trying to pick it up, and drowned. Before submerging, he asked the girl not to forget him, and thus the name of the plant came from.
Another German tale states that when God was naming all living creatures, he forgot about one small, blue-flowered plant, that called to him “Forget-me-not, o Lord!”, to which God replied it shall be the plant’s name.
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It is considered an invasive plant.
Its creeping roots can cover a wide area with little time.
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Depending on the species, the forget-me-nots can be toxic to animals and humans.
It is due to a chemical called pyrrolizidine alkaloid, which causes liver damage.
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Forget-me-nots can be successfully grown indoors.
It is, however, crucial to remember their creeping root system, which requires large containers.
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The essential oils from forget-me-nots prove to be health beneficial.
It can ease inflammation and irritation and is valued for skincare.
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As a symbol of remembrance, true love, and faithfulness, forget-me-nots are commonly used in events associated with such symbols.
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Forget-me-nots are worn on Remembrance Day (November 11th) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in remembrance of the victims of World War I.
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It is also a symbol of International Missing Children’s Day.
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The Alzheimer Society uses the forget-me-not to rise awareness of the disease.
