Greek mys — mouse, ous — ear, referring to the appearance of the leaves.
Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes hairy but never bristly. Leaves alternate on stem but forming a rosette at the base. Flower clusters terminal, open and coiled. Flowers stalked and with 5 scales in the throat, the lobes spreading. Stamens enclosed.
Grown mostly as bedding plants for the simple habit and flowers.
Seed and division.
Plants without rough hairs; flowers in open clusters and often changing from pink to blue at flowering; nutlets shiny and smooth.
About 100 species from temperate regions.
Source: (2002). Boraginaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.