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Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill

Overview
General Information
ID Info
Similar Species
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Aperçu
Renseignements Généraux
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Family :

Famille :

Boraginaceae

Synonym(s) :

Synonyme(s) :

Myosotis scorpioides L. var. arvensis L. (ITIS 2023; POWO 2023; USDA-ARS 2023)

Common Name(s) :

Nom(s) commun(s) :

Field forget-me-not

(English) (Darbyshire 2003; ITIS 2023; Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)
Myosotis des champs (French) (Darbyshire 2003; Wiersema & León 2016)
Field scorpion-grass (English) (Darbyshire 2003; Wiersema & León 2016)
Miosótis (Portuguese) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)
Gewöhnliches Acker-Vergissmeinnicht (German) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)

Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) nutlets

  • Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) nutlets

  • Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) nutlets

  • Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) nutlets

  • Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) nutlet; side view

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Overview

Aperçu

Regulation :

Remarques Réglementation:

    Regulation Notes:

    Distribution :

    Répartition :

    Myosotis arvensis is native to Europe, temperate Asia, northern Africa and introduced into North America (USDA-ARS 2022). M. arvensis occurs sporadically in the northern half of the United States (USDA-NRCS 2022) and can be found in all Canadian provinces, except for the Northwest Territory, Yukon and Nunavut (Brouillet et al. 2010+). M. arvensis has been recently naturalized in northeast Taiwan near a vegetable field (Hsu et al. 2002).

    Habitat and Crop Association :

    Habitat et Cultures Associées :

    Myosotis arvensis can be found in the low areas of cultivated fields, old fields, disturbed areas and lawns (Andreasen et al. 1996; Darbyshire 2003; Bryon and DeFelice 2010). In Europe, it occurs on many soil types and is found in cultivated fields, dry slopes and forest clearings (Hanf 1983). The species is associated especially with Triticum aestivum subsp. aestivum (wheat), Secale cereale (rye), Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare (barley) and Brassica sp. (rapeseed) (Andreasen et al. 1996).

    Economic Use, cultivation area, and Weed Association :

    Utilisation économique, zone de culture et association de mauvaises herbes :

    Duration of Life Cycle :

    Durée du cycle vital:

    Annual or Biennial

    Dispersal Unit Type :

    Type d’unité de dispersion :

    Mericarp

    General Information

    RENSEIGNEMENTS GÉNÉRAUX

    In Europe, Myosotis arvensis is associated primarily with cultivation: winter cereals and to a lesser extent spring cereals, grass forage fields and disturbed areas (Hanf 1983; Andreasen et al. 1996; Bryon and DeFelice 2010). The species likely is primarily dispersed with contaminated crops, and likely also by wind, water and insect dispersal due to the presence of an elaiosome and lightweight seeds. A recent discovery of the species in Taiwan was believed to be due to contaminated vegetable seed (Hsu et al. 2002)

    When M. arvensis was grown as a single species, it was found that a plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds, when grown with Triticum aestivum subsp. aestivum (wheat) the amount of seed was 33,400 in a low density crop and 16,800 seeds in a high density crop (Lutman et al. 2011).

    .

    Identification

    Identification

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    >

    • Mericarp

      Size

      • Mericarp length*: 1.2 – 1.8 mm; width: 0.8 – 1.3 mm
      *Note: minimum and maximum of 10 mericarps in a normal range of this species using image measurement (ISMA 2020)

      Additional size from literature:
      • Mericarp length: 1.2 – 1.4 mm; width: 0.7 – 0.9 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007)
      • Mericarp length: 1.2 – 1.5 mm (Bryon and DeFelice 2010)

      Shape

      • Mericarp is narrow egg-shaped and teardrop-shaped with a pointed narrow end and a rounded ridge in the middle of one side, biconvex or weakly trigonous in edge view
      • Outside edge of mericarp is pinched and sharp
      • Point of attachment is concave with a wrinkled rim

      Surface Texture

      • Mericarp surface is generally smooth, may have slight wrinkling

      Colour

      • Mericarp is generally glossy dark brown, but some are reddish brown, brown or light brown coloured
      • A colour pattern with grey, stellate interspaces in a round patch or transverse band in the middle of both sides of the mericarp can be seen at 30x magnification
      • Minute dark brown dots can be seen on the mericarp surface under 60x magnification
      • Immature mericarps are light brown coloured and generally look deflated

      Other Features

      • The schizocarp fruit is made up of four mericarps
      • Point of attachment is at the wide end of the mericarp, on the side with the central ridge

      Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) nutlets

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    >

    • Seed

      Size

      • Seed size is similar to mericarp size

      Shape

      • Seed is egg-shaped

      Surface Texture

      • Seed surface is wrinkled
      • Seed coat is membranous and reticulate patterned with rectangular interspaces

      Colour

      • Seed is light yellow coloured

      Other Features

      • Hilum is near the wide end of the seed, corresponding with the mericarp point of attachment
      • Seed is soft or semi-liquid and oily, easily compressed with forceps
    <
    >

    • Embryo

      Size

      • Embryo fills the seed

      Shape

      • Embryo spatulate shaped

      Endosperm

      • Nutritive tissue scant

      Other Features

      • Embryo in axial position

    Identification Tips

    CONSEILS POUR L’IDENTIFICATION

    The mericarps of Myosotis are unusual in the Boraginaceae, and can be distinguished from other genera by their almost biconvex shape, smooth surface, glossy colour and small, concave attachment point. The fruit coat is flexible and a translucent colour. Mericarps of Myosotis species are distinguished by size, colour, and small differences in surface texture, size of the attachment point and presence of an elaiosome. M. arvensis mericarps have a relatively small size, brown colour, prominent grey patches, and a rim visible on only one side of the mericarp.

    Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) nutlets

    Additional Botany Information

    AUTRES RENSEIGNEMENTS BOTANIQUES

    Flowers/Inflorescence

    • Myosotis arvensis flowering stems are curled, and open as the flowers bloom, flowers are clustered on one side of the stem (Bryon and DeFelice 2010)
    • Flowers are 2.0 – 4.0 mm wide and are generally blue coloured with a yellow centre, some plants produce light blue or white flowers
    • The calyx is 3.0 – 4.5 mm long and has five narrow triangular lobes with dense hairs, some of which are hooked (Bryon and DeFelice 2010; WMI 2022)

    Vegetative Features

    • Stems can be 10.0 – 50.0 centimetres tall (Bryon and DeFelice 2010)
    • Plants are much branched both at the base and at the top of the plant, arising from a basal rosette of leaves (Bryon and DeFelice 2010; WMI 2022)
    • Plants contain alkaloids that can damage the liver (Bryon and DeFelice 2010)

    Similar Species

    ESPÈCES SEMBLABLES

    Similar species are based on a study of seed morphology of various species, and those with similar dispersal units are identified. The study is limited by physical specimen and literature availability at the time of examination, and possibly impacted by the subjectivity of the authors based on their knowledge and experience. Providing similar species information for seed identification is to make users aware of similarities that could possibly result in misidentification.

     

    Parietaria officinalis L. and P. pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd.

    The achenes of these 2 weedy species in the Urticaceae appear similar to M. arvensis mericarps and can be a more common seed impurity. P. officinalis is native to Europe and temperate Asia, and has been recorded in Washington and Alabama in the United States (USDA-ARS 2022; USDA-NCRS 2022). P. pensylvanica is native to, and found across, North America with the exception of Northwest and Nunavut Territories, the Maritime provinces, and Newfoundland in Canada, and southern Mexico (Brouillet et al 2010+; USDA-ARS 2022).

    The achenes of P. officinalis are a similar size (length*: 1.2 – 1.6 mm; width: 0.7 – 1.1 mm) as M. arvensis, but are biconvex shape, greenish-brown or black colour, with a collar of white tissue at the wide end of the seed, a dot of white tissue on the narrow end and lacks the grey stellate pattern of M. arvensis mericarps.

    The achenes of P. pensylvanica are generally smaller (length: 0.9 – 1.2 mm; width: 0.6 – 0.9 mm, FNA 1993+), are a biconvex shape, have with a collar of white tissue at the wide end of the seed, a dot of white tissue on the narrow end and lacks the grey stellate pattern of M. arvensis mericarps.

    *Note: minimum and maximum of 10 mericarps in a normal range of this species using image measurement (ISMA 2020)

    Myosotis scorpioides L.

    M. scorpioides is native to wet meadows and ditches in Europe and temperate Asia, and found across Canada and the United States (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007; USDA-NCRS 2022). The mericarps are a similar size (length: 1.5 – 1.7 mm; width: 0.9 – 1.1 mm, Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007), are generally blackish coloured, with a slightly wrinkled surface and a rim around the edge visible on both sides of the seed compared to the brownish colour, smooth surface and rim visible only on one side in M. arvensis achenes.

    Myosotis discolor Pers.

    M. discolor is native to Europe, western Asia and north Africa in fallow fields, dry slopes and shrubby forests (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007; USDA-ARS 2022). It is widespread in North America along the western coast (USDA-NCRS 2022). The mericarps are generally smaller (length: 1 – 1.2; width: 0.7 – 0.8 mm, Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007), are reddish-brown coloured, have a rim visible on both sides and the more narrow point of attachment compared in M. arvensis.

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    Reference(s)

    Référence(s)

    Andreasen, C., Stryhn, H. and Streibig, J.C. 1996. Decline of the flora in Danish arable fields. Journal of Applied Ecology 33 619-626.

    Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora. Springer, The Netherlands. 1046 pp.

    Brouillet, L., Coursol, F., Meades, S. J., Favreau, M., Anions, M., Bélisle, P. and Desmet, P. 2010+. VASCAN, the database of vascular plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/ Accessed July 26, 2022.

    Bryson, C.T. and DeFelice, M.S. 2010. Weeds of the Midwestern United States and Central Canada. University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia. 427 pp.

    Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch. Ottawa, ON.

    Flora of North America (FNA) Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. New York and Oxford. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org Accessed August 02, 2022.

    Hanf, M. 1983. The Arable Weeds of Europe with their Seedlings and Seeds. BASF, Germany. 494 pp.

    Hsu, T-W., Chiang, T-Y and Wang, J-C. 2002. Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill., a naturalized species in Taiwan. Taiwania 47: 159-163.

    Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2023. https://www.itis.gov/ Accessed November 01, 2023.

    International Seed Morphology Association (ISMA). 2020. Method for Seed Size Measurement. Version 1.0. ISMA Publication Guide.

    Lutman, P.J., Wright, K.J., Berry, K., Freeman, S.E. and Tatnell, L. 2011. Estimation of seed production by Myosotis arvensis, Veronica hederifolia, Veronica persica and Viola arvensis under different competitive conditions. Weed Research 51: 499–507.

    Minnesota Wildflowers Information (MWI) 2022. Minnesota Wildflowers https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/ Accessed July 26, 2022.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). 2022. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch Accessed July 26, 2022.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). 2023. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch Accessed October 31, 2023.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2022. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA. https://plants.usda.gov/home Accessed July 26, 2022.

    Wiersema, John, H. and Blanca León. 2016. World Economic Plants. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (2nd Edition). Taylor & Francis.

    Author(s)

    AUTEUR(S)

    Jennifer Neudorf, Angela Salzl, Ruojing Wang

    Canadian Food Inspection Agency

     

    contactus@idseed.org

    Last updated
    on 2023-03-27

    © 2024 ISMA - International Seed Morphology Association