Epilobium

Epilobium
great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Epilobium
L.
Species

160-200, see text

Synonyms

Boisduvalia
Chamaenerion
Chamerion (but see text)
Pyrogennema
Zauschneria

Epilobium is a genus in the family Onagraceae, containing about 160-200 species of flowering plants with a worldwide distribution. They are generally abundant in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics and tropics they are restricted to the cool montane biomes, such as the New Guinea Highlands where they are plentiful.

The taxonomy of the genus has varied between different botanists, but the modern trend is to include the previously recognised genera Boisduvalia, Chamaenerion, Chamerion, Pyrogennema and Zauschneria within Epilobium. Chamerion might be distinct, however,[1] according to Peter H. Raven, who has extensively studied the willowherbs and merges the other segregate genera into Epilobium. Fringed willowherb (E. ciliatum) is likely a cryptic species complex; apparently these plants also commonly hybridize with their congeners.[2]

Most species are known by the common name willowherbs; in particular, those that were once separated in Boisduvalia are called spike-primroses or boisduvalias. Yet other species, namely those in the Chamerion group, are also known as fireweeds.

Description and ecology

Ripe capsule of Zauschneria (E. canum) releasing seed

They are mostly herbaceous plants, either annual or perennial; a few are subshrubs. The leaves are mostly opposite or whorled, alternate in a few species, simple, and ovate to lanceolate in shape. The flowers have four petals often notched.[3] These are usually smallish and pink in most species, but red, orange or yellow in a few, and large and bright magenta in the Chamerion group. The fruit is a slender cylindrical capsule containing numerous seeds embedded in fine, soft silky fluff which disperses the seeds very effectively in the wind.

Willowherbs are typically very quick to carpet large swathes of ground and may become key or dominant species of local ecosystems. In and around the United Kingdom, for example, rosebay willowherb (E. angustifolium) is widely found in mesotrophic grassland dominated by false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius), cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata), and red fescue (Festuca rubra), while great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) is found in mesotrophic grassland with stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). These two willowherb species are also seen to dominate open habitat early in ecological succession, to the virtual exclusion of other plant life. Broad-leaved willowherb (Epilobium montanum) is found characteristically, though not abundantly, in the mesotrophic grasslands with meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and sometimes the uncommon Greek valerian (Polemonium caeruleum), which are peculiar to the Pennines. Most willowherbs will not tolerate shade trees and thus are limited to more recently disturbed patches, yielding to other plants over time. Consequently, though the genus contains many pioneer plants, rather few of them are invasive weeds of major importance.

Epilobium species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera species, including:
Geometridae

Noctuidae

Sphingidae

Use by humans

Fireweed (E. angustifolium) growing along rail tracks in Denali National Park, Alaska

The main use of Epilobium by humans is as a herbal supplement in the treatment of prostate, bladder (incontinence) and hormone disorders. (reference: http://www.epilobium.com/)

Many of the small willowherb species are nuisance weeds in gardens. Though few are regularly used as ornamental plants, the larger willowherbs may be attractive in ruderal locales. One of the most frequently recognized members of the genus is the circumboreal fireweed (E. angustifolium), known as rosebay willowherb in the United Kingdom. It rapidly colonizes burnt ground; during the bombing of London in World War II many of the derelict bomb sites were soon covered with these plants, bringing a splash of colour to what was otherwise a very grim scene. It is the floral emblem of Yukon in Canada, Hedmark in Norway (where it is called geitrams) and Southern Ostrobothnia in Finland.

Fireweed is used as a sweetener in northwestern North America. It is put in candy, jellies, ice cream, syrup, and sxusem ("Indian ice cream"). In the late summer its flowers yield pollen and copious nectar which give a rich spicy honey. Its young leaves, roots, and shoots are edible (if somewhat bitter), and rich in provitamin A and vitamin C. The Dena’ina found them also useful as food supplement for dogs and applied sap from the stem to wounds, believing it to have antiinflammatory properties.

Several researchers have studied this taxon. Heinrich Carl Haussknecht in the late 19th century and Peter H. Raven about a century later researched the phylogeny, systematics, and taxonomy of willowherbs. Peter Michaelis' studies of this genus paved the way for understanding of extranuclear inheritance in plants.

Species

The National Museum of Natural History recognizes an intermediate number of about 175 species in 10 sections, including two sections of Chamerion, which they consider distinct.[1] Other sources may list one or two dozen species, more or less:

tall willowherb (Epilobium brachycarpum)
Zauschneria (Epilobium canum)

Section Boisduvalia

Section Cordylophorum

Subsection Nuttalia
Subsection Petrolobium

Section Crossostigma

Section Epilobiopsis

Section Macrocarpa

Section Xerolobium

Section Zauschneria

Epilobium alpestre
Top left: chickweed willowherb (E. alsinifolium)
Bottom left: alpine willowherb (E. anagallidifolium)
Center: square-stemmed willowherb (E. tetragonum)
Epilobium billardierianum
Left: pale willowherb (E. roseum)
Right: dwarf willowherb (E. obscurum)
small-flowered willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum)

Section Epilobium

Chamerion fleischeri syn. Epilobium fleischeri

Chamerion group

Section Chamerion

Section Rosmarinifolium

Formerly placed here

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wagner & Hoch [2009a,b]
  2. ↑ Bleeker et al. (2007)
  3. ↑ Webb,D.A., Parnell, J. and Doogue, D. 1996. An Irish Flora. Dundaldan Press (W. Tempest) Ltd, Dundalk. ISBN 0-85221-131-7
  4. ↑ Epilobium pygmaeum. USDA PLANTS.

References

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