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Scientific Name | Epilobium anagallidifolium | USDA PLANTS Symbol | EPAN4 |
Common Name | Alpine Willowherb | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 27283 |
Family | Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) | UC Jepsen Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (8500 to 13500 ft.); moist areas along streams, lakes, moist meadows, tundra. Plant: Small, tufted, mat-forming perennial 1 to 9 inches tall. Leaves: Opposite, stem leaves vary from narrowly elliptic to ovate to oblanceolate, 1/2 to 1 inch long, dark green or red-tinged. Inflorescence: A few small pink to rose flowers in a terminal raceme with 4 notched petals. Bloom Period: July and August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, E-Flora BC and www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Epilobium brachycarpum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | EPBR3 |
Common Name | Tall Annual Willowherb, Panicled Willowherb | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 27288 |
Family | Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills and montane (5500 to 9700 ft.); roadsides, meadows, woodlands, disturbed areas. Plant: Erect annual with branching stems, 8 to 40 inches tall; smooth below and glandular (sticky) above. Leaves: Alternate along most of the stem and branches, opposite near the base, petiolate, narrowly lanceolate to linear, margins mostly entire or toothed; leaves of the main stem 1-1/4 to 2-3/4 inches long, much shorter on side branches. Inflorescence: A few funnel-shaped rose to pale pink flowers less than 3/4-inch long in lax racemes at the ends of the branches; petals less than 1/3-inch long and deeply-notched at the tips; linear bracts, sometimes purplish; 8 stamens. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, SEINet and Burke Herbarium. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | EPCIC |
Common Name | Fringed Willowherb | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 27294 |
Family | Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Lifezones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (5000 to 11500 ft.); moist or dry conditions, roadsides and meadows. Photos below taken in very wet forested area. Plant: Highly variable species; erect perennial 8 to 48 inches tall, may be branched or not; upper stems with short hairs. Leaves: Lower leaves opposite becoming alternate further up the stem; lanceolate with pointed tip, from less than 1/2-inch to almost 4 inches long; edges with small teeth. Inflorescence: Small white to pink flowers on stalks, a leaf-like bract the base of each stalk at the axil with the stem; 4 notched petals, 8 stamens. Bloom Period: June to August. References: UCLA-Santa Monica, E-Flora BC, and www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Epilobium hornemannii var. hornemannii | USDA PLANTS Symbol | EPHOH |
Common Name | Hornemann's Willowherb | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 27307 |
Family | Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) | Jepson eFlora Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (8000 to 12000 ft.); moist areas along streambanks and in meadows. Plant: Erect, leafy perennial 4 to 20 inches tall. Leaves: Opposite, ovate to lanceolate stem leaves, 1/2 to 2 inches long; very short (~1/4 inch) or no petioles; edges smooth or with a few small teeth. Inflorescence: Small pink to rose-purple flowers on stalks 1/4 to 2 inches long, each with 4 notched petals. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Jepson eFlora and www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Epilobium lactiflorum (Epilopium hornemannii var. lactiflorum) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | EPLA3 |
Common Name | Whiteflower Willowherb, Milkflower Willowherb | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 27309 |
Family | Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) | Jepson eFlora Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (8000 to 12000 ft.); moist areas along streambanks and in meadows. Plant: Erect, leafy perennial 4 to 20 inches tall. Leaves: Opposite, narrowly-ovate to lanceolate stem leaves, usually stalkless, 3/4 to 2-1/8 inches long; edges smooth or with a few small teeth. Inflorescence: Small white flowers on stalks 1/4 to 2 inches long, each with 4 notched petals and club-like stigma. Bloom Period: June to August. References: E. hornemannii var. lactiflorum in "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Jepson eFlora and E-Flora BC. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |