The Blue Eyed Mary (Omphalodes verna)

The Blue-Eyed Mary

(Extirpated)

By: Helen Chen

Table of ContentsO Classification of the speciesO Habitat found in Canada and other areasO Estimated Population SizeO Role in the environment (niche)O Reason for declination of speciesO Solution to restore populationO The future of the organism (Prediction) O Poster to raise awarenessO Interesting FactsO VocabularyO Work Cited

ClassificationO Family: BoraginaceaeO Type: PlantO Binomial Nomenclature: Omphalodes verna O Genus: OmphalodesO Species: vernaO Alternative Name(s): omphalòs, verna, creeping

navelwort, blue-eyed Mary, Creeping-Forget-Me-Not, Venus’s Buttons

O Meaning of the Name: Omphalodes (Omphalòs) means navel, referring to the small fruits from the plant.verna (vernus) means the early blooming flowers.Category: Perennials, ground covers, alpine and rock gardensPh: Acid, Neutral, AlkalineO Colours/Shades: White, blue, small blue center

surrounded by white/yellow

Habitat

O May inhabit fresh mountain forests, near beeches, wastelands, and scrublands

O Preferences: Sandy or clam loam, moist soils but well-drained, shady areas, altitude 0-1300 metres above sea level

O Best Conditions for Planting: Average moisture of soil and light shade.

O No-Gos: Full sun is not recommended for it may burn the leaves.

O May have appeared in: Central and Southeastern Europe,Quebec, Canada

Estimated Population

Not ApplicableInsufficient information

to gather a goodAnswer (Although it still sells in Europe

for roughly $10 USD/batch)

Role (Niche)O The Omphalodes verna plays a huge

role for gardeners because they are able to cover the grounds so that weeds and other unnecessary plants are not grown. The leaves are a dense mat.

O Its role is to also look as beautiful as possible.

O It could be used as an ingredient to make a product such as: perfume, scented cakes, etc.

Reason for DeclinationO Over usageO OverhuntingO Sunlight (Weather Conditions)O PollutionO Invasive SpeciesO Destruction of HabitatO Natural DisastersO Least Concern

SolutionO The Omphalodes verna is already

extirpated (1) O We could raise awareness for the other

organisms so humans don’t make the same mistakes again. (2)

O Buy seeds and plant more of these flowers in order for the plant to not become extinct. (3)

The FutureO It has already been rooted out completely

from its location. Unless in the future, there are ways to resurrect living things and mutating dead plants then it’s likely that the Creeping-Forget-Me-Nots will never be extirpated again. (1)

O The flower is everlasting once planted unless rooted out or other methods to get rid of the plant, so it will last quite a long time if not destroyed. (2)

Interesting FactsO Similar to Myosotis sparsiflora (Forget-Me-Not)O Omphalodes verna covers the grounds with its leaves so that

weeds and such are not able to grow. It may also snake around the ground and become invasive if not controlled, but most of the time, they coexist with other plants well.

O Often mistaken as Forget-Me-Nots, can be distinguished by the fruits

O No pruning necessaryO Suggested to plant in garden or gravel groundsO Can grow 20-30cm in height, 2-5 years for maximum heightO No diseases foundO Pest free Leaves are fine-haired and pointy at the tipsO Colours in:

Spring

Summer

AwarenessO By doing this slideshow, I am raising

awareness to humans by presenting information on how to not destroy endangered species any further with the lesson of this organism already being rooted out due to several reasons:

Over usageOverhunting More

Vocabulary

O Navelwort: Belonging to the Borage family, it is a low plant that resembles the Forget-Me-Nots.

O Beeches: A tree that has smooth leaves, gray bark, and hard, fine, pale timber.

O Loam: Soil with a fairly equal balance of clay, silt, and sand.

O Perennial: Infinitely lastingO Extirpated: Rooted out and destroyed completely O Foliage: Plant leaves, collectivelyO Alpine: “a plant native to mountain districts, often

suitable for growing in rock gardens”O Alkaline: having the properties of an alkali, or

containing alkali; having a pH greater than 7.

Work CitedO Bech, Tom. "Blue-eyed Mary." Flickr. Yahoo!, 28 Apr.

2012. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.O "Gardening Articles." Green Zonelife. Digital Oceans,

n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.O Mike. "Groundcovers II." Mikes Garden Top 5 Plants.

Wordpress, 26 Oct. 2012. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.O "Omphalodes Verna Blue-eyed Mary." Royal

Horticultural Society. Registered Charity, n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.

O "Omphalodes Verna 'Elfenauge'" Farreachesfarm. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

O "Omphalodes Verna." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.