Ecoconnections part 2 - forget me not

I was very excited to learn that I had been ecoconnected to Myosotis sylvatica which is a forget-me-not flower. It is widespread in England, Wales and the Isle of Man. It is a short-lived herbaceous perennial with sky-blue flowers. There are also many other species of Myosotis that are also known as forget-me-knots throughout the northern hemisphere.

The forget-me-not flower got its name after a Greek word Myositis which actually meant mouse’s ear. Myositis is a scientific name but the common name is Forget me not flower. The name forget-me-not came from the German word vergissmichnicht which means forget me not. Most stories surrounding this flower come from the German mythology and culture (Flower Meanings).

Myositis, or a Forget-me-not Flower, belongs to the family of Boraginaceous. There are about 200 species of this genus, with many variations, and as an herb The Myositis comes from Europe. It grows very lush in a compact bush, in the height of 15 to 30 cm. The tree and leaves are covered with tiny hairs. The leaves are tongued in a rosette from which the floral handle is drawn (Flower Meanings).

Symbolism:

Forget-me-nots represent true love and giving someone this flower means you truly love and respect this person. It is a testament to your relationships and promises the other person that you will never forget them in your thoughts. Forget me nots are also a symbol of fidelity and being truthful to someone you love. Lastly, forget-me-nots represent long lasting connections that can exist between not only lovers, but also friends. This connection can’t be broken or shaken by anything or anyone (Lovingly).

Literature:

The Scottish poet William McGonagall (1825 to 1902) immortalized the forget-me-not in his poem of the same name. The poem recounts the tragic tale of a knight named Edwin and his betrothed bride, Ellen. One day, as they are walking by the waters’ edge, Ellen wonders aloud whether Edwin is true to her. As a sign of his fidelity, Edwin jumps into the water to pick for Ellen flowers growing on the other bank. He drowns in the process, but not before tossing the flowers to his beloved with the parting words, “Forget-me-not.” That’s what Ellen names the flowers (Garden Guides).

Examples from Literature:

“From beneath her mantle she drew a little bunch of forget-me-nots, and dropped them in upon the coffin.”  Thomas Hardy: A changed man and other tales

“No distance or time could rob him of the remembrance of that night at the opera—the scent of white rose—her look as she gave him the forget-me-nots.” William Black: Sunrise

“They tell me that the bit of ground over in Belgium called Waterloo bears each spring a crop of rare blue forget-me-nots.” D.Gordon: Quiet talks with world winners

“Under his feet was a crush of forget-me-nots and of white and purple violets, their sweet perfume filling his lungs as he breathed.” James Oliver Curwood: The Alaskan

I found it quite interesting that I got assigned to a plant that I had never come across as it gave me an opportunity to learn about this plant. When I started to read about this plant, I envisaged beautiful fields carpeted with this small blue plant, which is indeed what it does in the wild.

Ecoconnections is a great way to find out about a species that you may never have heard of before as well as doing some good for the planet. I thoroughly enjoyed finding out about my species. Get ecoconnected here and post a fun fact about your species in the comments below.  I would love to hear what your species is...? Find out more about Ecoconnections below.

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