The Borage Family
What are they?
The Borage family has a number of species that are common and well known in Europe, some of which are popular herbs. Several of the species to be found around Cape May are alien introductions from Europe. Typically, these are low to medium annuals or herbaceous perennials with most species having blue or white flowers and bristly leaves and/or stems.
Where are they found?
Introduced species may be found anywhere in disturbed ground, roadsides or old fields. Some annual species are weeds of farm and garden.
Identification
Our forget-me-nots mostly have pale blue flowers and are all rather similar in overall appearance. They can be told by subtle differences in flower color and size, and in details of the fruiting seed capsules after flowering.
Field Gromwell Buglossoides arvensis
Introduced from Europe. Uncommon in Cape May County but occasionally found as a small weed of disturbed ground. Flowers May to July. An upright plant, growing to around one foot in height, with white, tubular flower, opening one or two at a time.
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Field Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis
Introduced from Europe. Uncommon in Cape May County but occasionally found as a small weed of disturbed ground. Flowers May to July. A slightly larger species than the more common Small-flowered Forget-me-not and with bigger flowers. When in fruit, the fruiting stalks are noticeably longer than the seed capsules.
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Changing Forget-me-not Myosotis discolor
Introduced from Europe. Widespread but uncommon in Cape May County but should be looked for in lawns and other areas with short vegetation. Flowers April to June. Best told from other forget-me-nots by the flowers, which open pale yellow and gradually change to light blue. A short plant, growing to no more than four to six inches in height.
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Small-flowered Forget-me-not Myosotis stricta
(Strict Forget-me-not) Introduced from Europe. A widespread and very common plant in Cape May County, as a weed of lawns and other short turf plant communities. Flowers March to May. Though the flowers are very tiny, they often bloom en masse and can create eye-catching carpets of pale blue in spring. When in fruit, the fruiting stalks are noticeably shorter than the seed capsules.
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