bay forget-me-not

The life cycle of Myosotis laxa can vary between an annual, biennial, and brief-lived perennial. It typically flowers May through September. Myosotis laxa closely resembles Myosotis scorpioides L. but has two main identifying features. First, its corolla is smaller than M. scorpioides at 2 to 5 mm. wide and 5 to 10 mm. wide, respectively. Additionally, the style in M. laxa consistently surpasses the nutlet, while in M. scorpioides it does not. Generally, the leaves of M. laxa are smaller than M. scorpiodes, but this trait may vary between individuals. The calyx of both M. laxa and M. scorpioides are characteristically covered in strigose hairs, while other Myosotis species are not. M. laxa is typically 10 to 40 cm. tall and decumbent, or prostrate, at its base. The inflorescence is terminal and the calyx is 3 to 5 mm. wide. Sometimes the calyx lobes are unequal in length and can be shorter or longer than the tube. The corolla is the light blue color, characteristic of the forget-me-nots, but can rarely be white or even yellow. M. laxa is also known to have a coastal form that has been reported in the Baltic Sea Region, Caspian Sea, north central Asia, Altai, and Mongolia. However, studies have found that this form does not arise in relation to coastal distance, suggesting it could appear in any suitable habitat.