''Epilobium'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Onagraceae The Onagraceae are a family of flowering plants known as the willowherb family or evening primrose family. They include about 650 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the

subarctic The subarctic zone is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic, north of humid continental regions and covering much of Alaska, Canada, Iceland, the north of Scandinavia, Siberia, and the Cairngorms. Generally, ...

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...

and

subantarctic The sub-Antarctic zone is a region in the Southern Hemisphere, located immediately north of the Antarctic region. This translates roughly to a latitude of between 46° and 60° south of the Equator. The subantarctic region includes many islands ...

regions, whereas in the

subtropics The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north and ...

and

tropics The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

''Epilobium'' species are restricted to the cool

montane Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial ...

biome A biome () is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader ...

s, such as the

New Guinea Highlands The New Guinea Highlands, also known as the Central Range or Central Cordillera, is a long chain of mountain ranges on the island of New Guinea, including the island's tallest peak, Puncak Jaya , the highest mountain in Oceania. The range is home ...

. The

taxonomy Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

of the genus has varied between different

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

s, but the modern trend is to include the previously recognised genera ''Boisduvalia, Pyrogennema'' and ''Zauschneria'' within ''Epilobium''. ''

Chamaenerion ''Chamaenerion'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae (the evening primrose or willowherb family). It has sometimes been included in the genus ''Epilobium''. Members of the genus may be called willowherbs (along with ''Epilobiu ...

'', (previously ''Chamerion''), is considered distinct, however,Wagner & Hoch 009a,b/ref> according to

Peter H. Raven Peter Hamilton Raven (born June 13, 1936) is an American botanist and environmentalist, notable as the longtime director, now President Emeritus, of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Early life On June 13, 1936, Raven was born in Shanghai, Chi ...

, who has extensively studied the willowherbs and merges the other segregate genera into ''Epilobium''. Fringed willowherb (''

Epilobium ciliatum ''Epilobium ciliatum'', known by the common names fringed willowherb, American willowherb, 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 No ...

'') is likely a

cryptic species complex In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

; apparently these plants also commonly

hybridize Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...

with their congeners. Most species are known by the common name willowherbs for their willow-like leaves. Those that were once separated in ''Boisduvalia'' are called spike-primroses or boisduvalias. Those ''Epilobium'' species previously placed in the ''Chamaenerion'' group and known as fireweeds are now segregated into the genus ''Chamaenerion''.

Description

Epilobium canum fruits with comose seeds 2003-01-21

Epilobiums are mostly

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

plants, either

annual Annual may refer to: *Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year ** Yearbook ** Literary annual *Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

; a few are

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...

s. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are opposite or rarely whorled, simple and ovate to lanceolate in shape. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s are

actinomorphic Floral symmetry describes whether, and how, a flower, in particular its perianth, can be divided into two or more identical or mirror-image parts. Uncommonly, flowers may have no axis of symmetry at all, typically because their parts are spirall ...

(radially symmetrical) with four petals that may be notched. These are usually smallish and pink in most species, but red, orange or yellow in a few. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...

is a slender cylindrical capsule containing numerous

seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...

s embedded in fine, soft silky fluff which disperses the seeds very effectively in the wind. The genus name derives from the Greek words "epi" meaning "upon" and "lobos" meaning "lobe", with reference to position of the petals above the ovary. A number of ''Epilobium'' species with slightly asymmetrical (

zygomorphic Floral symmetry describes whether, and how, a flower, in particular its perianth, can be divided into two or more identical or mirror-image parts. Uncommonly, flowers may have no axis of symmetry at all, typically because their parts are spirall ...

) magenta flowers and alternate leaves were placed in a ''Chamaenerion'' group, and have been separated by some authorities into the genus ''Chamerion''. However, ''Chamerion'' has not been universally accepted and there is now emerging consensus that this group of species should be segregated into the genus ''Chamaenerion''.

Habitat and ecology

Willowherbs ''sensu lato'' are typically very quick to carpet large swathes of ground and may become key or dominant species of local

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...

s. In the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, for example, rosebay willowherb (''

Chamaenerion angustifolium ''Chamaenerion angustifolium'' is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae. It is known in North America as fireweed, in some parts of Canada as great willowherb, in Britain and Ireland as rosebay willowherb. I ...

'') is widely found on

mesotrophic soils Mesotrophic soils are soils with a moderate inherent Fertility (soil), fertility. An indicator of soil fertility is its base (chemistry), base status, which is expressed as a ratio relating the major Plant nutrition, nutrient Ion#Ions, cations (calc ...

dominated by false oat-grass (''

Arrhenatherum elatius ''Arrhenatherum elatius'', with the common names bulbous oat grass, false oat-grass, tall oat-grass, tall meadow oat, onion couch and tuber oat-grass, is a species of perennial grass, native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. This bun ...

''), cock's-foot grass (''

Dactylis glomerata ''Dactylis Glomerata'' is the sixth studio album by Swedish doom metal band Candlemass, released in 1998. This was their first album released since their split in 1994. The album was originally destined to be the second release by Candlemass ...

''), and red fescue (''

Festuca rubra ''Festuca rubra'' is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue or creeping red fescue. It is widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere and can tolerate many habitats and climates. It is best adapted to well-drained soils in c ...

''), while great willowherb (''

Epilobium hirsutum ''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, ...

'') is found in mesotrophic grassland with stinging nettle (''

Urtica dioica ''Urtica dioica'', often known as common nettle, burn nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. Ori ...

''). These two willowherb species also dominate open habitat early in

ecological succession Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. The time scale can be decades (for example, after a wildfire) or more or less. Bacteria allows for the cycling of nutrients such as ca ...

, 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 ''Filipendula ulmaria'', commonly known as meadowsweet or mead wort, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Rosaceae that grows in damp meadows. It is native throughout most of Europe and Western Asia (Near east and Middle east). It has ...

'') and sometimes the uncommon Greek valerian (''

Polemonium caeruleum ''Polemonium caeruleum'', known as Jacob's-ladder or Greek valerian, is a hardy perennial flowering plant. The plant produces cup-shaped, blue or white flowers. It is native to temperate regions of Europe. Growth The plant usually reaches tall ...

''). 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 plant Pioneer species are hardy species that are the first to colonize barren environments or previously biodiverse steady-state ecosystems that have been disrupted, such as by wildfire. Pioneer flora Some lichens grow on rocks without soil, so m ...

s, rather few of them are

invasive weed An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

s of major importance. ''Epilobium'' species are used as food plants by the

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...

s of certain

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species, including:

Geometridae The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''met ...

Grey pug The grey pug (''Eupithecia subfuscata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region. It is also found in North America. Since it does not place any special demands on climatic conditions, special caterpilla ...

(''Eupithecia subfuscata''), recorded on several species

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...

Mouse moth The mouse moth (''Amphipyra tragopoginis'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a widespread species with a Holarctic distribution. Distribution Europe (except the extreme north, and not occurring in the south of Spain, Sicily, or the Balkan ...

(''Amphipyra tragopoginis''), recorded on several species *

Small angle shades The small angle shades (''Euplexia lucipara'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout the Palearctic. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. As the common name ...

(''Euplexia lucipara''), recorded on several species * Australian grapevine moth (''Phalaenoides glycinae''), recorded on fringed willowherb (''E. ciliatum'')

Sphingidae The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, bu ...

* Elephant hawk-moth (''Deilephila elpenor''), recorded on several species * Small elephant hawk-moth (''Deilephila porcellus''), recorded on several species * White-lined sphinx (''Hyles lineata''), recorded on several species

Use by humans

The main use of ''Epilobium'' by humans is as a herbal supplement in the treatment of

prostate The prostate is both an Male accessory gland, accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found only in some mammals. It differs between species anatomically, ...

bladder The urinary bladder, or simply bladder, is a hollow organ in humans and other vertebrates that stores urine from the kidneys before disposal by urination. In humans the bladder is a distensible organ that sits on the pelvic floor. Urine enters ...

(

incontinence Incontinence or Incontinent may refer to: *Fecal incontinence, the involuntary excretion of bowel contents *Urinary incontinence, the involuntary excretion of urine * Lack of moderation or self-control, especially related to sexual desire - see I ...

) and

hormone A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are required ...

disorders. Many of the small willowherb species are nuisance

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...

s in

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate both ...

s. Though few are regularly used as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...

s, the larger willowherbs may be attractive in

ruderal A ruderal species is a plant species that is first to colonize disturbed lands. The disturbance may be natural for example, wildfires or avalanchesor the consequences of human activities, such as construction ( of roads, of buildings, mining, et ...

locales. One of the most frequently recognized members of the genus is the

circumboreal The Circumboreal Region in phytogeography is a floristic region within the Holarctic Kingdom in Eurasia and North America, as delineated by such geobotanists as Josias Braun-Blanquet and Armen Takhtajan. It is the largest floristic region in t ...

fireweed (''E. angustifolium''), known as rosebay willowherb in the

. It rapidly colonizes burnt ground; during the bombing of London in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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 In a number of countries, plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas. Some countries have a country-wide floral emblem; others in addition have symbols representing subdivisions. Different processes have been used to ...

Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

Hedmark Hedmark () was a county in Norway before 1 January 2020, bordering Trøndelag to the north, Oppland to the west, Akershus to the south, and Sweden to the east. The county administration is in Hamar. Hedmark and Oppland counties were merged int ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

(where it is called ''geitrams'') and

Southern Ostrobothnia South Ostrobothnia ( fi, Etelä-Pohjanmaa; sv, Södra Österbotten) is one of the 19 regions of Finland. It borders the regions of Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Pirkanmaa, and Satakunta. Among the Finnish regions, South ...

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

. Fireweed is used as a sweetener in northwestern

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

. It is put in

candy Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language an ...

, jellies,

ice cream Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as str ...

syrup In cooking, a syrup (less commonly sirup; from ar, شراب; , beverage, wine and la, sirupus) is a condiment that is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars ...

, and '' sxusem'' ("Indian ice cream"). In the late summer its flowers yield

pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...

and copious

nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...

which give a rich spicy

honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...

. Its young leaves, roots, and shoots are edible (if somewhat bitter), and rich in

provitamin A A provitamin is a substance that may be converted within the body to a vitamin. The term previtamin is a synonym. The term "provitamin" is used when it is desirable to label a substance with little or no vitamin activity, but which can be converted ...

and

vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) an ...

. The Dena’ina found them also useful as

food supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement one's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or that are synthetic in order ...

for dogs and applied sap from the stem to wounds, believing it to have

antiinflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as ...

properties. Several researchers have studied this taxon.

Heinrich Carl Haussknecht Heinrich Carl Haussknecht (30 November 1838 – 7 July 1903) was a German pharmacist and botanical collector who was a native of Bennungen, Sachsen-Anhalt. Trained as a pharmacist, Haussknecht is remembered for collecting and describing numero ...

in the late 19th century and Peter H. Raven about a century later researched the

phylogeny A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spec ...

systematics Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees (synonyms: cladograms, phylogenetic tre ...

, and

of willowherbs.

Peter Michaelis Peter Michaelis (28 May 1900 in Munich – 3 August 1975 in Cologne) was a German plant geneticist who focused most of his research on cytoplasm inheritance and segregation. Most of Michaelis work was carried out during the period from the 1940s t ...

' studies of this genus paved the way for understanding of

extranuclear inheritance Extranuclear inheritance or cytoplasmic inheritance is the transmission of genes that occur outside the nucleus. It is found in most eukaryotes and is commonly known to occur in cytoplasmic organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts or fro ...

in plants.

Species

The

National Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. It has free admission and is open 364 days a year. In 2021, with 7 ...

recognizes an intermediate number of about 197

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in 10

section Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sig ...

s, and consider the former section ''Chamaenerion'' (=''Chamerion''), as a distinct genus. Other sources may list one or two dozen species, more or less: Epilobiumbrachycarpum

Section ''Boisduvalia'' * '' Epilobium densiflorum'' – denseflower willowherb, dense spike-primrose, dense boisduvalia * '' Epilobium pallidum'' – largeflower spike-primrose * '' Epilobium pygmaeum''''Epilobium pygmaeum''.
USDA PLANTS. – pygmy willowherb, smooth boisduvalia * '' Epilobium subdentatum'' * '' Epilobium torreyi'' – Torrey's willowherb, brook spike-primrose Section ''Cordylophorum'' :Subsection ''Nuttalia'' * ''

Epilobium suffruticosum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' – shrubby willowherb :Subsection ''Petrolobium'' * '' Epilobium nevadense'' – Nevada willowherb * '' Epilobium nivium'' – Snow Mountain willowherb Section ''Crossostigma'' * '' Epilobium foliosum'' – leafy willowherb, California willowherb * '' Epilobium minutum'' – chaparral willowherb, desert willowherb, smallflower willowherb Section ''Epilobiopsis'' * '' Epilobium campestre'' * '' Epilobium cleistogamum'' – selfing willowherb Section ''Macrocarpa'' * '' Epilobium rigidum'' – stiff willowherb, Siskiyou Mountains willowherb Section ''Xerolobium'' * '' Epilobium brachycarpum'' – tall willowherb, tall annual willowherb, tall fireweed, panicled willowherb Section ''Zauschneria'' * '' Epilobium canum'' – Zauschneria, California-fuchsia, hummingbird flower, hummingbird trumpet * '' Epilobium septentrionale'' – northern willowherb, Humboldt County fuchsia Epilobium alpestre 1

Section ''Epilobium'' * '' Epilobium aitchisonii'' * '' Epilobium algidum'' * ''

Epilobium alpinum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' * '' Epilobium alpestre'' * '' Epilobium alsinifolium'' – chickweed willowherb * '' Epilobium alsinoides'' ** ''Epilobium alsinoides'' ssp. ''alsinoides'' ** ''Epilobium alsinoides'' ssp. ''atriplicifolium'' ** ''Epilobium alsinoides'' ssp. ''tenuipes'' * ''

Epilobium amurense ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' ** ''Epilobium amurense'' ssp. ''amurense'' ** ''Epilobium amurense'' ssp. ''cephalostigma'' * '' Epilobium anagallidifolium'' – alpine willowherb, pimpernel willowherb * '' Epilobium anatolicum'' ** ''Epilobium anatolicum'' ssp. ''anatolicum'' ** ''Epilobium anatolicum'' ssp. ''prionophyllum'' * '' Epilobium angustum'' * ''

Epilobium arcticum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' – Arctic willowherb * '' Epilobium astonii'' * '' Epilobium atlanticum'' * ''

Epilobium australe ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' * '' Epilobium barbeyanum'' * '' Epilobium billardierianum'' – glabrous willowherb ** ''Epilobium billardierianum'' ssp. ''billardierianum'' ** ''Epilobium billardierianum'' ssp. ''cinereum'' ** ''Epilobium billardierianum'' ssp. ''hydrophilum'' ** ''Epilobium billardierianum'' ssp. ''intermedium'' * ''

Epilobium blinii ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium brevifolium'' ** ''Epilobium brevifolium'' ssp. ''brevifolium'' ** ''Epilobium brevifolium'' ssp. ''trichoneurum'' * '' Epilobium brevipes'' * '' Epilobium brevisquamatum'' * ''

Epilobium brunnescens ''Epilobium brunnescens'' is a flowering plant belonging to the willowherb genus ''Epilobium'' in the family Onagraceae. It is a small, creeping, perennial plant with white or pale pink flowers. It is native to New Zealand and south-east Austral ...

'' – New Zealand willowherb ** ''Epilobium brunnescens'' ssp. ''beaugleholei'' ** ''Epilobium brunnescens'' ssp. ''brunnescens'' ** ''Epilobium brunnescens'' ssp. ''minutiflorum'' * '' Epilobium capense'' * ''

Epilobium chionanthum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics and ...

'' * '' Epilobium chitralense'' * '' Epilobium chlorifolium'' * ''

'' – fringed willowherb, American willowherb * '' Epilobium clarkeanum'' * '' Epilobium clavatum'' – talus willowherb, clavatefruit willowherb * '' Epilobium collinum'' * '' Epilobium coloratum'' – purpleleaf willowherb * '' Epilobium confertifolium'' * '' Epilobium confusum'' * '' Epilobium conjungens'' * '' Epilobium crassum'' * ''

Epilobium curtisiae ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' * '' Epilobium cylindricum'' * '' Epilobium davuricum'' – Daurian willowherb * '' Epilobium densifolium'' * '' Epilobium denticulatum'' * '' Epilobium detzneranum'' * '' Epilobium duriaei'' * '' Epilobium fangii'' * '' Epilobium fastigiatoramosum'' * '' Epilobium fauriei'' * '' Epilobium forbesii'' * '' Epilobium fragile'' * ''

Epilobium frigidum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * ''

Epilobium fugitivum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium gemmascens'' * '' Epilobium glabellum'' – smooth spike-primrose * '' Epilobium glaberrimum'' – glaucous willowherb * ''

Epilobium glaciale ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium glaucum'' * ''

Epilobium gouldii ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' * '' Epilobium gracilipes'' * '' Epilobium griffithianum'' * '' Epilobium gunnianum'' * '' Epilobium halleanum'' – glandular willowherb * '' Epilobium hectorii'' * ''

'' – great willowherb, great hairy willowherb, hairy willowherb, codlins-and-cream, apple-pie, cherry-pie * '' Epilobium hirtigerum'' * '' Epilobium hohuanense'' * '' Epilobium hooglandii'' * '' Epilobium hornemannii'' – Hornemann's willowherb ** ''Epilobium hornemannii'' ssp. ''behringianum'' ** ''Epilobium hornemannii'' ssp. ''hornemannii'' * '' Epilobium howellii'' – Yuba Pass willowherb, subalpine fireweed * '' Epilobium indicum'' * '' Epilobium insulare'' * '' Epilobium kermodei'' * ''

Epilobium keysseri ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * ''

Epilobium kingdonii ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics and ...

'' * ''

Epilobium komarovianum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' – bronzy willowherb * '' Epilobium lactiflorum'' – milkflower willowherb, whiteflower willowherb * '' Epilobium lanceolatum'' – spear-leaved willowherb * '' Epilobium laxum'' * '' Epilobium leiophyllum'' * '' Epilobium leptocarpum'' – slenderfruit willowherb * '' Epilobium leptophyllum'' – bog willowherb, linear-leaved willowherb * '' Epilobium luteum'' – yellow willowherb * '' Epilobium macropus'' * '' Epilobium margaretiae'' * '' Epilobium matthewsii'' * '' Epilobium maysillesii'' * '' Epilobium melanocaulon'' * '' Epilobium microphyllum'' * '' Epilobium minutiflorum'' * '' Epilobium mirabile'' – Olympic Mountain willowherb * '' Epilobium montanum'' – broad-leaved willowherb * '' Epilobium nankotaizanense'' – Nankotaizan willowherb * ''

Epilobium nerteroides ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium nivale'' * ''

Epilobium nummulariifolium ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' * '' Epilobium nutans'' * ''

Epilobium obcordatum ''Epilobium obcordatum'' is a species of perennial plant in the evening-primrose family (Onagraceae), known by the common name rockfringe willowherb and rock fringe. It is native to the western United States from California to Idaho Ida ...

'' – rockfringe willowherb * '' Epilobium obscurum'' – dwarf willowherb, short-fruited willowherb * '' Epilobium oreganum'' – Grants Pass willowherb, Oregon fireweed * '' Epilobium oregonense'' – Oregon willowherb * ''

Epilobium pallidiflorum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * ''

Epilobium palustre ''Epilobium palustre'' is a species of willowherb known by the common name marsh willowherb. This plant has a circumboreal distribution, and can be found farther south in mountainous areas. Description This is a hairy perennial growing spindly s ...

'' – marsh willowherb * ''

Epilobium pannosum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium parviflorum'' – small-flowered willowherb, hoary willowherb * '' Epilobium pedicellare'' * '' Epilobium pedunculare'' – rockery willowherb * ''

Epilobium pengii ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' * '' Epilobium pernitens'' * '' Epilobium perpusillum'' * '' Epilobium petraeum'' * '' Epilobium pictum'' * '' Epilobium platystigmatosum'' * '' Epilobium ponticum'' * '' Epilobium porphyrium'' * '' Epilobium prostratum'' * '' Epilobium psilotum'' * ''

Epilobium pubens ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium puberulum'' * '' Epilobium purpuratum'' * ''

Epilobium pycnostachyum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium pyrricholophum'' * '' Epilobium rechingeri'' * '' Epilobium rhynchospermum'' * ''

Epilobium roseum ''Epilobium roseum'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Onagraceae. Its native range is Europe to China. . References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q159669 Epilobium, roseum ...

'' – pale willowherb ** ''Epilobium roseum'' ssp. ''consimile'' ** ''Epilobium roseum'' ssp. ''roseum'' ** ''Epilobium roseum'' ssp. ''subsessile'' * '' Epilobium rostratum'' * '' Epilobium rotundifolium'' * ''

Epilobium royleanum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium rupicolum'' * ''

Epilobium salignum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium sarmentaceum'' * '' Epilobium saximontanum'' – Rocky Mountain willowherb * '' Epilobium sikkimense'' * '' Epilobium sinense'' * ''

Epilobium siskiyouense ''Epilobium siskiyouense'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae, evening primrose family known by the common names Siskiyou willowherb and Siskiyou fireweed (though it is not a Epilobium#Chamerion group, true fireweed). Distr ...

'' – Siskiyou willowherb, Siskiyou fireweed * '' Epilobium smithii'' * '' Epilobium staintonii'' * '' Epilobium stereophyllum'' * '' Epilobium stracheyanum'' * '' Epilobium strictum'' – downy willowherb, stiff spike-primrose * '' Epilobium subalgidum'' * ''

Epilobium subcoriaceum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * '' Epilobium subnivale'' * '' Epilobium taiwanianum'' * '' Epilobium tasmanicum'' * '' Epilobium tetragonum'' – square-stemmed willowherb ** ''Epilobium tetragonum'' ssp. ''lamyi'' ** ''Epilobium tetragonum'' ssp. ''tetragonum'' ** ''Epilobium tetragonum'' ssp. ''tournefortii'' * '' Epilobium tianschanicum'' * '' Epilobium tibetanum'' * '' Epilobium trichophyllum'' * '' Epilobium vernonicum'' * '' Epilobium wallichianum'' * '' Epilobium warakense'' * ''

Epilobium wattianum ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' * ''

Epilobium williamsii ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics an ...

'' * '' Epilobium willisii'' * '' Epilobium wilsonii'' * ''

Epilobium × wisconsinense ''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in t ...

'' – Wisconsin willowherb (=''E. ciliatum'' ssp. ''ciliatum'' × ''E. coloratum'') Epilobium fleischeri - Fleischers Weideröschen blühend 2

former ''Chamaenerion'' group

The following species are now segregated into the genus ''

'' Ség. The generic name ''Chamaenerion'' is preferred to ''Chamerion''.) Section ''Chamaenerion'' * ''

Epilobium angustifolium ''Chamaenerion angustifolium'' is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae. It is known in North America as fireweed, in some parts of Canada as great willowherb, in Britain and Ireland as rosebay willowherb. I ...

'' * '' Epilobium conspersum'' * ''

Epilobium latifolium ''Chamaenerion latifolium'' (formerly ''Epilobium latifolium'', also called ''Chamerion latifolium'') is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the English common names dwarf fireweed and river beauty willowherb. It ...

'' * '' Epilobium speciosum'' Section ''Rosmarinifolium'' * '' Epilobium colchicum'' * '' Epilobium dodonaei'' * '' Epilobium fleischeri'' * '' Epilobium stevenii''

Formerly placed here

* '' Stylidium tenellum'' (as ''E. tonkinense'') It is possible to distinguish between leaves of different ''Epilobium'' species using high-accuracy FT-IR method based on attenuated total reflection (ATR) without time-consuming preparation.Krajšek, S., Buh, P., Zega, A., Kreft, S. (2008). Identification of herbarium whole-leaf samples of ''Epilobium'' species by ATR-IR spectroscopy. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 5:310-31
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbdv.200890028/abstract;jsessionid=46F30B7C6B30DADFBD57A4789993E047.f01t02
/ref>

Footnotes

References

* Bleeker, Walter; Schmitz, Ulf & Ristow, Michael (2007): Interspecific hybridisation between alien and native plant species in Germany and its consequences for native biodiversity. ''Biological Conservation'' 137 (2): 248-253. (HTML abstract, appendix reserved for subscribers) * Steenkamp, V; Gouws, M.C; Gulumian, M; Elgorashi, E.E. & van Stade, J. (2006): Studies on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of herbal remedies used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. ''Journal of Ethnopharmacology'' 103 (1): 71–75.
PDF fulltext
* * * Wagner, W.L. & Hoch, P.C. 009b Evening Primrose Family website &ndash
''Epilobium''
Retrieved 2009-JAN-26. {{Taxonbar, from=Q157637 Onagraceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus