Alaska State Flower
Forget-Me-Not (common name)
Myosotis alpestris (scientific name)
Myosotis alpestris (scientific name)
Overview
Originating in New Zealand, the forget-me-not is a fibrous-rooted plant that bears clusters of small five-petaled blue flowers with yellow centers. Since it is a garden favorite and is ideally suited to the habitat that covers much of Alaska, it was approved as the official floral emblem of the Alaska Territory in 1917. Newfoundland, before becoming a Canadian province, used the forget-me-not as a symbol of remembrance of the nation's dead warriors. The blue background of the Alaskan state flag symbolizes the sky and the forget-me-not flower. The plant is used as a traditional medicine for lung problems and nosebleeds.
Close-up
STATUS
Official
PHYSICAL DETAILS
Duration: Annual, perennial
Plant: Tall alpine flowers that bloom in clusters at the tip of every stalk
Mature Height: 15.7 in (40 cm)
Flowering: June and August
Flowers: 0.2–0.3 in (4–8 mm) wide, with five petals
Flower Color: Blue and yellow; white and pink variants
Leaves: small fuzzy leaves
Fruit/Seed Color: small brown burr
Plant: Tall alpine flowers that bloom in clusters at the tip of every stalk
Mature Height: 15.7 in (40 cm)
Flowering: June and August
Flowers: 0.2–0.3 in (4–8 mm) wide, with five petals
Flower Color: Blue and yellow; white and pink variants
Leaves: small fuzzy leaves
Fruit/Seed Color: small brown burr
HABITAT
Location: Damp and shady places such as streambeds and woodlands as well as in sub-arctic tundra and mountain meadows.
Range: Endemic to New Zealand, but now found in temperate areas throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Range: Endemic to New Zealand, but now found in temperate areas throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
TRIVIA
- The forget-me-not symbolizes love, hope, and faithfulness.
- The name of the flower has many myths attached to it. A German legend holds that a knight, while walking with his lady love along a riverside, picked a bunch of flowers. He fell into the river due to the weight of his armor, and as he was drowning, threw the posy to her and shouted "Forget –me not."
- Ladies often wear the flower to signify faithfulness and love.
- According to a Christian legend, Jesus Christ created forget-me-nots to enable future generations to see the eyes of his mother, Mary.
- The scientific name means "mouse's ear" in Greek, referring to the plant’s fuzzy leaves.
Click to enlarge an image
Forget-me-not
Forget-me-not Field
Forget-me-not Leaves
| CLASSIFICATION | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Phylum: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Myosotis |
| Species: | M. alpestris |
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