Myosoton aquaticum (L.) Moench

Myosoton species perennial herbs, usually caespitose. Stem erect, decumbent or ascending, simple or diffusely branched, slightly quadrangular or terete, glabrous or pubescent, not glandular, rooting at nodes, rootstock slender, long, stout and sometimes rhizomatous in perennials. Leaves simple, opposite, linear lanceolate to obovate-spathulate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, 1 veined, not succulent, petiole subsessile to sessile, stipules absent. Inflorescence usually dichasial cymes or rarely solitary, terminal or supra-axillary. Flowers bisexual rarely unisexual, weaky perigynous, pedicel erect, glabrous or pubescent, sometimes reflexed in fruit, bracts paired, foliaceous, margins scarious, sepals 5, lanceolate-ovate, herbaceous, green sometimes with purplish tinge, margins scarious, apex acute to obtuse, petals 5, limbs deeply bi-fid from the base, margins entire, apex emarginated or entire, sometimes absent. Stamens 10 rarely less, filaments distinct, staminodes absent, nectarines present at filament bases. Ovary superior, unilocular rarely trilocular, ovules many, style 5-6, glabrous, stigmas 5-6, minutely papillae. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, dehiscing with 3-6 valves or splitting into 5-6 equal teeth, carpophore absent. Seeds 1 to many, reniform or globose, compressed laterally, tuberculate or papillate, dark brown to black, marginal wings absent, embryo annular.

Myosoton species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: May-August.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Perennial herbs, about 10-80 cm tall, usually caespitose. Stem suberect, decumbent or ascending, diffusely branched, slightly quadrangular or terete, minutely glandular pubescent, rooting at nodes, rootstock slender, long, stout and sometimes rhizomatous in perennials. Leaves simple, opposite, lanceolate-ovate, about 2-6 x 1-3 cm across, base rounded, margin wavy, apex acute, 1 veined, not succulent, glabrous or minutely pubescent, petiole subsessile to sessile, stipules absent. Inflorescence usually dichasial cymes, terminal or supra-axillary. Flowers bisexual rarely unisexual, weaky perigynous, pedicel erect, glandular pubescent, about 1-2 cm long, sometimes reflexed in fruit, bracts paired, foliaceous, margins scarious, sepals 5, lanceolate-ovate, herbaceous, green sometimes with purplish tinge, margins scarious, apex acute to obtuse, about 4-5 mm long, up to 7 mm long in fruit, petals 5, limbs deeply bi-fid from the base, divided so that each limb resembling like 2 petals, margins entire, apex deeply emarginated from the base. Stamens 10 rarely less, shorter than petals, filaments distinct, staminodes absent, nectarines present at filament bases. Ovary superior, unilocular rarely trilocular, ovules many, style 5-6, glabrous, stigmas 5-6, minutely papillae. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, dehiscing with 3-6 valves or splitting into 5-6 equal teeth, carpophore absent. Seeds 1 to many, reniform or globose, compressed laterally, tuberculate or papillate, dark brown, marginal wings absent, embryo annular.

Myosoton species are susceptible to various insect pests, virus, and fungi, affecting leaves, fruits and roots.

Forests, moist areas, hill slopes and near cultivated fields, cosmopolitan, altitude up to 2700 m.

Not evaluated (IUCN).