About Myosotidium hortensia (Decne.) Baill.
Myosotidium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The genus contains only one species: Myosotidium hortensia, commonly called the Chatham Islands lily, giant forget-me-not, or Chatham Islands forget-me-not. This species is endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, and it is known as kopukapuka in the Māori language. The biogeography of Myosotidium hortensia is currently unresolved, but it has been hypothesized that its ancestors originated from the American continent. Genetic studies show that Myosotidium hortensia is a sister species to the South American plant genus Selkirkia, and both of these genera are sister to the North American genus Mimophytum. Myosotidium hortensia is a fleshy herb that bears large, roughly circular, somewhat fleshy leaves with apparently parallel venation. In late spring, it produces an inflorescence that holds numerous blue flowers. Its relatively large, blackish seeds have a winged structure. This species is widely cultivated as an ornamental garden flower in New Zealand and other regions. Alongside the naturally blue-flowered species, a white-flowered cultivar called 'Alba' is also popular in cultivation. In its native natural habitat, Myosotidium hortensia grows near beaches, where it is directly exposed to sea spray and sea winds.
