| Family: | Boraginaceae |
|---|---|
| Common name: | forget-me-not, borage family [Zomlefer, pp. 218-220] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 100 genera; 2,000 species U.S.: 22 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 7 genera |
|
|
|
| Flower | |
|---|---|
K.GIF) Co(5) S5 P(2) |
|
| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | cyme, usu. coiled ("fiddleneck") |
| Calyx (sepals): | 5, separate or fused at the base |
| Corolla (petals): | 5, fused, campanulate, or salverform |
| Androecium: | 5, epipetalous |
| Gynoecium: | 2 united carpels, superior ovary (=hypogynous), single style, axile placentation, ovary four-lobed, four chambers with one ovule each |
| Fruit: | 4 nutlets or achenes (often fewer matured by abortion) |
| Other features: | heterostyly present in the family |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| usually bristly with glandular hairs, round stems | |
| Leaves: | alternate, simple, entire, exstipulate |
| Life-history: | annual to perennial |
| Habit: | herbs, some shrubs, trees |
| Distribution & Ecology: | temperate and sub-tropical areas diversity centered in the Mediterranean |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Amsinkia, fiddleneck Cryptantha, cryptantha Mertensia, bluebells Myosotis, forget-me-not Plagiobothrys, popcorn flower |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | |
| Ornamentals: | garden ornamentals Mertensia, bluebells Myosotis, forget-me-not |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Boraginaceae Amsinkia |
|---|---|
| Boraginaceae Cynoglossum |
|
| Boraginaceae Mertensia |
|
| Boraginaceae Cryptantha |
|
| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
Links to Other Web Sites