Fauna
Flower

Water Forget-me-not

Myosotis scorpioides

Also known as True Forget-Me-Not, Scorpion Grass, Water Mere-Forget-Me-Not, Marsh Forget-Me-Not

Sprawling across shallow streams and marshy borders, water forget-me-not roots readily from nodes to anchor floating mats of bright green foliage. Its classic inflorescence uncoils like a scorpion's tail, revealing clusters of sky-blue, five-lobed blossoms with radiant yellow eyes. These nectar-rich blooms draw solitary bees, hoverflies, and butterflies to riparian edges throughout the warmest months.

WetlandFloweringPerennial
Water Forget-me-not reference1 / 7
(c) Patrick Hacker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Patrick Hacker · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Pond snails
  • Flea beetles
  • Aphids
ThreatsWetland drainage, herbicide pollution, waterway canalization
HabitatsStream banks, marshes, wet meadows, ditch edges, pond margins
Life spanPerennial (several years)
Classification
  1. OrderBoraginales
  2. FamilyBoraginaceae
  3. GenusMyosotis
  4. SpeciesMyosotis scorpioides
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids; do not ingest and keep away from foraging livestock.
Why it is dangerous
All plant tissues synthesize pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause chronic liver damage in humans and livestock if ingested.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by its sky-blue five-petaled flowers with bright yellow centers and sprawling, hairy stems growing in wet mud or water.
What to do
Do not harvest or consume wild plants, and prevent horses or cattle from grazing dense riverside stands.
Responsible observation
  • Shoreline identification: Scan shallow, slow-moving shallows and marsh edges where floating creeping stems anchor in mud.
  • Inflorescence examination: Observe the tightly coiled flower head gradually unfurl as individual blue florets open sequentially.
Related species
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