About Myosotis laxa (Sam.) Hyl. ex Nordh.
Myosotis laxa (Sam.) Hyl. ex Nordh. has a variable life cycle that can be annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial. It typically flowers from May through September. This species closely resembles Myosotis scorpioides L., but can be distinguished by two key identifying traits. First, the corolla of Myosotis laxa is smaller than that of Myosotis scorpioides, measuring 2 to 5 mm wide, while M. scorpioides corollas measure 5 to 10 mm wide. Second, the style of M. laxa consistently extends past the nutlet, which does not occur in M. scorpioides. In general, the leaves of M. laxa are smaller than those of M. scorpioides, though this characteristic varies between individual plants. The calyxes of both M. laxa and M. scorpioides are distinctly covered in strigose hairs, a feature not found in other Myosotis species. Mature M. laxa plants typically grow 10 to 40 cm tall, and have a decumbent (prostrate) base. Its inflorescence is terminal, and its calyx measures 3 to 5 mm long. Calyx lobes are sometimes unequal in length, and may be either shorter or longer than the calyx tube. The corolla is light blue, the typical color for forget-me-nots, though it rarely occurs in white or yellow forms. A coastal form of M. laxa has been recorded in the Baltic Sea Region, Caspian Sea, north central Asia, Altai, and Mongolia. Studies have found that this form does not develop in relation to distance from the coast, meaning it can appear in any suitable habitat.
