Epilobium hirsutum

Epilobium hirsutum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Epilobium
Species: E. hirsutum
Binomial name
Epilobium hirsutum
L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Chamaenerion grandiflorum (Weber) Moench
  • Chamaenerion hirsutum (L.) Scop.
  • Epilobium amplexicaule Lam.
  • Epilobium aquaticum Thuill.
  • Epilobium dubium Borbás
  • Epilobium foliosum Hochst.
  • Epilobium grandiflorum Weber
  • Epilobium himalense Royle
  • Epilobium incanum Pers.
  • Epilobium mirei Quézel
  • Epilobium nassirelinulci Stapf
  • Epilobium ramosum Huds.
  • Epilobium serratum Jacquem. ex C.B.Clarke
  • Epilobium tomentosum Vent.
  • Epilobium velutinum Nevski nom. illeg.
  • Epilobium villosum Thunb.

Epilobium hirsutum is a flowering plant belonging to the willowherb genus Epilobium in the family Onagraceae. It is commonly known as the great willowherb, great hairy willowherb or hairy willowherb. Local names include codlins-and-cream, apple-pie and cherry-pie.

Close-up of the flowers

Description

It is a tall, perennial plant, reaching up to 2 metres in height. The robust stems are branched and have numerous hairs.[2] The hairy leaves are 2–12 cm long and 0.5-3.5 cm wide. They are long and thin and are widest below the middle. They have sharply toothed edges and no stalk. The large flowers have four notched petals. These are purple-pink and are usually 10–16 mm long. The stigma is white and has four lobes. The sepals are green.

Distribution

The native range of the species includes North Africa, most of Europe up to South of Sweden,[3] and parts of Asia. It is absent from much of Scandinavia and north-west Scotland. It has been introduced to North America and Australia. It typically grows in wet or damp habitats without dense tree-cover up to 2,500 metres above sea-level. Common habitats include marshland, ditches and the banks of rivers and streams. It flowers from June to September, with a peak in July and August. The flowers are normally pollinated by bees and hoverflies. A number of insects feed on the leaves including the elephant hawkmoth, Deilephila elpenor.

Ecology

Damp and waste places, river-sides and ditches.[4]

Epilobium hirsutum seed heads

References

  1. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Martin, K. 1965. The New Concise British Flora in Colour; with nomenclature edited and revised by Douglas H. Kent and foreword by The Duke of Edinburgh. London: Book Club Associates by arrangement with Ebury Press/ Michael Joseph (1982)
  3. ↑ "Epilobium hirsutum , Sverige". linnaeus.nrm.se. Retrieved November 2014.
  4. ↑ Webb, D,A., Parnell, J. and Doogue, D. 1996. An Irish Flora. Dundalgan Press (W.Tempest) Ltd. Dundalk. ISBN 0-85221-131-7
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