Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


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Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

31. Onagraceae, the Evening Primrose Family

2. Epilobium L. -- Willow herb

2. Epilobium coloratum Biehler -- Purple-leaved willow herb

Similar to E. ciliatum, averaging larger, mostly 5-10 dm tall, simple below and bushy-branching above in the inflorescence, producing basal, leafy rosettes in autumn; stems glabrous below, puberulent above with incurved hairs mainly on the decurrent leaf bases. Leaves mostly opposite, becoming alternate and reduced in the inflorescence, the main cauline leaves distinctly short-petioled, the blades elongate-lanceolate, mostly 4-15 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, long-acuminate to a slender, pointed tip, serrulate, with mostly 30-75, low, rather sharp teeth on each margin, rounded at the base. Floral tube 0.3-1 mm long; sepals ovate to lanceolate, acute to cuspidate, 1.5-3 mm long, projecting or divergent in bud; petals pink, 3-5 mm long, strongly notched; pedicels to 10 mm long. Capsules linear, 3-4.5(6) cm long; seeds 1.2-1.7 mm long, papillate on the surface, the coma cinnamon-colored at maturity, sessile on the beakless rounded tip of the seed. Jul--Sep. Shores, springs, swamps and fens; rather scattered from se ND to NE; (ME and Que. to MN and se ND, s to NC, AL, AR, OK and n TX).
GIF- Distribution Map

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Menlo Park, CA [caww55]