[2][3][1] Myosotis spatulata is morphologically most similar to the other creeping, bracteate-prostrate species including M. matthewsii, M. chaffeyorum, M. tenericaulis and M.

spatulata, seiminibus laevibus, foliis spatulatis hispidis, pedunculis axillaribus, solitariis unifloris.

F. Nova Zeelandia.’[1] Many authors since then have spelled the epithet spathulata instead of spatulata, including Robert Brown in his Prodromus.

[10] However the three individuals of M. spatulata did not form a monophyletic group, and species relationships within the southern hemisphere lineage in general were not well resolved.

The calyx is 1–4 mm long at flowering and 2–4 mm long at fruiting, deeply lobed to half or all of its length, and densely covered in short, straight to flexuous (sometimes hooked near the calyx base), appressed, patent, or erect, antrorse hairs.

[4] Myosotis spatulata is endemic to New Zealand, and has a large geographical distribution throughout the North and South Islands from 0–1500 m elevation.

[4] M. spatulata is found on rocky, base-rich substrates, in dry or wet, shaded, sheltered areas in grassland, shrubland or forests.

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