Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum Onagraceae

Photograph taken on August 28, 2022, at High Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Plant of the Day

Monday 5 September 2022

In the roadside ditches of South Ronaldsay, Orkney, a pale form of the wildflower Epilobium hirsutum (great willowherb) is flowering. This plant is found in damp places, such as wet grasslands, ditches and riversides spreading by fluffy white seeds and rhizomes.

Jill Raggett

Epilobium canum

This plant is commonly called "California fuchsia", and although it belongs to the same family as Fuchsia (Onagraceae), it is not actually in that genus. It is common in much of California, and it also occurs in other western states of the USA, as well as in northwestern Mexico. It is much admired for the blaze of red it brings in late summer, after many other native species have finished flowering.

-Brian

n174_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: Atlas de poche des plantes des champs, des prairies et des bois Paris :P. Klincksieck,[1894] biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11018393

“Forêt” d’Epilobes. 🥰 C’est toujours autant magnifique à observer quand en fleur, avec les insectes visitant à droite à gauche chacun des fleurs. #RAVEN #association #sanctuaryoftheraven #associationraven #animaux #vimartinsurorthe #nature #mayenne #sarthe #orne #biodiversite #biodiversité #refuge #epilobium #epilobe #epilobes #épilobe #épilobes #brisevue #brisevuenaturel (à Raven’s Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiDjjc4LPSP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Fireweed..

a favorite long lasting wildflower..

Gederams (Epilobium angustifolium) hvid variant

Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium)

Northern willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum), also known as fringed willowherb, is a dainty perennial relative of fireweed and is often found growing in the same habitats. The four deeply-notched petals with dark venation sometimes give the impression of eight petals. Willowherbs are pioneer plants and some species are considered to be weedy, but northern willowherb is actually quite attractive. 

Botanical illustration of fireweed or Epilobium augustifolium

Fireweed - August 2023 Epilobium angustifolium is called Fireweed because it is among the first plants to appear after a forest fire. The plant is edible and is eaten by everything from bears to humans. The flowers provide food for bees and other pollen-gathering insects. And besides all of this, their magenta flowers form beautiful swaths of color throughout the Yukon. I took this particular image on the highway from Lake Watson to Whitehorse, Yukon Territories. MWM

A California Fuchsia and all the little seedlings of native plants and weeds that are growing from the water runoff.