Myosotis azorica, common name Azorean mouse-ear or Azorean forget-me-not, is a plant species endemic to the Azores Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Description
Myosotis azorica is a
Perennial plant Herbaceous plant with decumbent stems up to 30 cm (12 inches) tall. Leaves are lanceolate, clasping the stem, with numerous soft flexible hairs. Flowers are borne in "scorpioid cymes," i.e. on spirally curving stems resembling a
scorpion's tail or a half-unfurled
fiddlehead fern leaf. Flowers are deep blue-purple with a yellow center.
[ Watson, Hewett Cottrell. 1844. Myosotis azorica, Azorean mouse-ear or forget-me not. Botanical Magazine 70: t. 4122.]
Distribution and habitat
Myosotis azorica is endemic to the western Azores, occurring only on the westernmost islands of Flores and Corvo. The last wild populations on Flores went extinct recently. Reports from other islands in the Azores are confusions with the related
Myosotis maritima, a strictly coastal species. It grows near waterfalls and on wet rocks and in
above 500 meters altitude. Its native range covers less than , with the total number of individuals estimated at less than 50, so the species is vulnerable.
