Myosotis monroi

Myosotis monroi is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.

[1] The new species was also illustrated by Matilda Smith in 1914, drawn from specimens[3] gathered by Frederick Gibbs on Dun Mountain, Nelson, at an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet (1,220 m).

[4] Cheeseman wrote that, 'This attractive little plant was originally discovered by Sir David Monro about the year 1854 on Dun Mountain, Nelson... Monro's plant, however, has proved to be comparatively abundant on the Dun Mountain Range, and has been gathered by most New Zealand botanists...'[4] Myosotis monroi is morphologically most similar to two other South Island ebracteate-erect species, M. albosericea and M. goyenii, but can be distinguished from them by its hooked trichomes on the calyx, fully exserted anthers, filaments that are usually >2 mm long, and obtuse rosette leaf apex.

[5] Myosotis monroi is a forget-me-not endemic to the northern part of South Island, New Zealand in the ecological provinces of Sounds-Nelson and Western Nelson, from 700–1640 m elevation.

It is locally common on ultramafic soils in rocky areas in fell field, scrub or tussuckland in Red Hills, Wairau Valley, and at Dun Mountain.

[5][2] The species is listed as "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon" in the most recent assessment (2017-2018) under the New Zealand Threatened Classification system for plants.

Close-up of flower
Ultramafic habitat of M. monroi