Forget-me-

Myosotis scorpioides

True forget-me, kärröga

STRÄVBLADIGA PLANTS

Boraginaceae

According to an old Persian legend, fell in love with an angel in a mortal and was for that reason, banished from paradise. As punishment, he must so forget-me in the earth's four corners. When he had completed his task, he returned to his beloved, who now had become immortal, and was taken back into favor in paradise.

This well-known, popular and legendary herb goes by the same poetic names in many languages. The botanical name means musöron and aimed at the small hairy leaves that characterize several species. Forget-me have another Swedish name, kärröga, which of course refers to the plant site and flower color.

Forget-me belongs in the old folk medicine and is now mainly of historical interest. In folk medicine has it in dried form, used to eye infections, probably because of the color blue. Recently, however, forget-me recommended that anti-s, due to its high content of potassium salts.

Occurrence: Fairly general from Skåne to Jämtland, rarely up to the Torne Lapland. Grows in damp areas, ditches, swamps and lake shores.

Characteristics: Perennial plant with creeping stems and ascending, 15 40 cm high stems, angular or round, slightly branched, and often provided with protruding hair. Leaves oblong, somewhat pointed, soft, at least the upper without stalks. Flowers first reddish, then blue sky (June-August). They sit in ändställda sided bundles, whose tops are wrapped before the flowers bloom. There are both specimens with bisexual flowers. more often, and female plants with smaller flowers. The lining is covered with the printed has, the crown is flat, almost 10 mm wide (hermaphrodite flowers), five number of short beeps at the mouth has five yellow small scales. Delfrukter 4, small and black with shiny surfaces. Earth Tribe crawling with runners. Aromatic scent.

Using parts of plants: Flowering branch tips ingredients: Potassium, alkaloids.

Medical action: Strengthening.

Usage: Internally as a tonic for weakness.