Epilobium ciliatum

Epilobium ciliatum, known by the common names fringed willowherb,[1] American willowherb,[2] slender willow herb, and northern willow herb is a species of flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae. This species is native to much of North America, southern South America, and East Asia. It is an introduced species in much of Eurasia and Australia.[3]

Epilobium ciliatum
Epilobium ciliatum subsp. watsonii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Epilobium
Species:
E. ciliatum
Binomial name
Epilobium ciliatum
Synonyms

Epilobium adenocaulon Hausskn.
Epilobium bergianum A.K.Skvortsov
Epilobium glandulosum Lehm.
Epilobium pseudorubescens A.K.Skvortsov
Epilobium rubescens Rydb.
Epilobium watsonii Barbey

This perennial herbaceous plant usually occurs in wetlands, but may be found in a great variety of habitats, including disturbed areas and roadsides, at elevations below 1,400 metres (4,600 ft).[3]

Description

Epilobium ciliatum is a clumping perennial often exceeding 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height. It has thickly veined lance-shaped leaves which may be up to 15 centimeters long toward the base of the plant. The foliage, stem, and inflorescence are covered in bristly hairs and glands.

There are four sepals. The regular, trumpet-shaped flowers have four petals which are so deeply notched they look like four pairs. They are white to light purple or pink with dark veining. There are eight stamens and a club-shaped stigma. The fruit is a narrow, hairy, four-chambered capsule up to 10 centimeters in length which may be held on a long stalk. The seeds are downy and can float for long distances with the wind.[4]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognized:

  • Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum [5][6]
  • Epilobium ciliatum ssp. glandulosum — (Lehm.) Hoch & P.H.Raven [7][8]
  • Epilobium ciliatum ssp. watsonii — (Barbey) Hoch & P.H.Raven[9][10]

Taxonomy

Epilobium ciliatum may be a cryptic species complex. The Rocky Mountain Willowherb (Epilobium saximontanum) is sometimes included as yet another subspecies.

The three currently recognized subspecies may each constitute a distinct species. If so, E. ciliatum ssp. watsonii would perhaps use the name E. adenocaulon and include those populations, while E. ciliatum ssp. glandulosum would perhaps use the name E. bergianum and include those populations. The others named E. ciliatum ssp. ciliatum populations would remain.

Distribution and habitat

Epilobium ciliatum is native to the southern part of Canada and most of the United States of America. It arrived in northern Europe early in the 20th century and spread rapidly, reaching Finland in about 1920. It is a plant of moist places, stream-sides, ditches, ponds, gardens, roadsides, recently cleared areas and wasteland.[4]

References
  1. "Epilobium ciliatum". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  2. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  3. "Jepson Flora Project:Onagraceae". Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  4. "American Willowherb". NatureGate. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  5. Jepson: Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum
  6. USDA: Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum
  7. Jepson: Epilobium ciliatum ssp. glandulosum
  8. USDA: Epilobium ciliatum ssp. glandulosum
  9. Jepson: Epilobium ciliatum ssp. watsonii
  10. USDA:Epilobium ciliatum ssp. watsonii
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