Myosotis sylvatica Hoffm., Boraginaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Common name(s): [more details]

English: garden forget-me-not, woodland forget-me-not

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial up to 30 cm tall. Stem erect, simple, sometimes with few branches, sparsely to densely vinous. Basal leaves elliptic-oblong to oblanceolate, 30-50 x 15-30 mm. Cauline leaves oblanceolate, sometimes lanceolate-obtuse, apiculate, uppermost ones similar but smaller and sessile. Inflorescence in flower short and crowded, in fruit loose and elongated, with fruiting calyx up to 16 mm apart. Fruiting pedicel exceeding calyx length. Calyx 1/2 to 3/4th partite into lanceolate lobes, covered with spreading hairs, those on the lower connate part uncinate, base gradually (not abruptly) tapering, in fruit wide open. Corolla limb 5-7 mm broad; blue or bluish-purple. Nutlets c. 1.5 mm, oblong, upper half keeled vent-rally, acutish at tip with a narrow margin all around, blackish-brown, smooth and shiny"  (Flora of Pakistan online).

Habitat/ecology:  "Forests, riparian habitats, disturbed sites.  This plant grows in forests, woodland, and rocky places within the native range, and is a variable species with four subspecies in Europe.  The dense growth habit crowds out native plants and impedes their regeneration.  It displaces invaded areas with mono-specific stands"  (Weber, 2003; p. 276).  In New Zealand, "usually as an escape from cultivation in waste places, scrub, plantations, forest margins, forest paths and roadside verges, especially in shade where it can be the dominant species; sometimes a troublesome weed in gardens"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 383).

Propagation:  "It is a prolific seed producer that establishes in locally disturbed sites within natural communities.  Seeds are dispersed by water and animals"  (Weber, 2003; p. 276).

Native range:  Europe; southern Asia to Bhutan, India and Nepal  (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 555)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 180) Australian Capitol Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 180)
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2011)
Canada Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)
Canada Canada	Canada (country)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 383)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)

Control: 

Physical:  "Single plants and small patches may be pulled or dug out.  Cutting before seed ripen prevents seed dispersal but does not eliminate the plant".

Chemical:  "Dense stands can be sprayed with herbicide, best before flowering commences"  (Weber, 2003; p. 276).

Additional information:
Fact sheet from Invasive Plants of Wisconsin.

Additional online information about Myosotis sylvatica is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Myosotis sylvatica as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Myosotis sylvatica may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John. 2011. Naturalized species in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. Unpublished spreadsheet.

Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: Candidate species for preventative control. Canberra, Australia. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. 208 pp.

Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido. 2006. Nouveau catalogue de la flore vaculaire de l'archipel Juan Fernández (Chile) [Nuevo catálogo de la flora vacular del Archipélago Juan Fernández (Chile)]. Acta Bot. Gallica 153(4):399-587.

National Herbarium of New South Wales. 2011. PlantNet: New South Wales Flora online. The Plant Information Network System of the Botanic Gardens Trust Version 2.0. Online resource.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. 2011. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV: Naturalised pteridophytes, gymnosperms, dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. 1365 pp.

Weber, Ewald. 2003. Invasive plants of the World. CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, UK. 548 pp.