Back to main Search Page

Myosotis alpestris - F.W.Schmidt.

Alpine Forget-Me-Not

Author	F.W.Schmidt.	Botanical references	17, 200
Family	Boraginaceae	Genus	Myosotis
Synonyms	Myosotis rupicola - Sm.
Known Hazards	None known
Range	Britain, Europe, W. Asia and N. America.
Habitat	Rare and local in Britain, growing in damp woodlands and meadows, usually on basic rock formations[17, 200].
Edibility Rating	0 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.2m by 0.3m.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist or wet soil.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Astringent; Ophthalmic.

The whole plant is astringent and ophthalmic[7]. Used as a lotion, it is an excellent remedy for many eye diseases[7]. It is also ground into a powder and applied externally to wounds, at one time the leaf juice was used to stop nose bleeds[7]. The plant is harvested in May and can be dried for later use[7].

Other Uses

None known

Scented Plants

Flowers: Fresh

The flowers are deliciously fragrant in the evening and night time though there is little or no scent in the daytime[245].

Cultivation details

Prefers a well-drained gritty soil[245]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. The flowers are deliciously fragrant in the evening and night time though there is little or no scent in the daytime[245].

Propagation

Seed - sow outdoors in situ in late spring or early summer. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c. Division in spring[111]. Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of young shoots, summer in a shady border[111].

Links

References

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[111] Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.

[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Add a comment/link:

Discussion Monitor

To have posts to this page mailed to you enter your email address here:

(Your email address will not appear on the webpage or be passed on to third parties).