Confusingly, there are two differing species with the common name Early Forget-me-not: Myosotis dissitiflora and Myosotis ramosissima, the species shown. The former only grew in three hectads in Southern England sometime between 1930 and 1969, but hasn't been seen since.

Easily confused with : Changing Forget-me-Not [which is also very low and likes dry habitats, but Changing Forget-me-not has flowers that change from yellow when opening, through to a paler brighter cream, and later ending up mid-blue]. Both Wood Forget-me-Not and Field Forget-me-Not are much taller, and although both still prefer dry places like Early Forget-me-not, one grows in woods, the other arable fields. Also, Field Forget-me-Not has grey-blue flowers rather than the sky-blue of Early Forget-me-not.

Some similarities to : other members of the same Borage Family.

Likes to inhabit the coastal fringe although is also found well inland. Habitat includes bare or dry rocky places, preferring lime, and with an affinity for the dryish upper parts of old sand dunes. The flowers are tiny, between 1mm to 3mm across, and the whole plant is low and straggly, usually keeping below 5cm, but can reach 8 or 9 inches. The sepals spread when in fruit; the fruits brown. The fruiting part of the stem is much longer than the leafy part.