Onagraceae

Willowherbs and Evening-primroses

From Streeter et al., (2016), 'Family key' (note, this is just for the Willowherbs Epilobium, the Onagraceae family is quite variable):

"Flowers pink, regular; 4 petals, free; 8 stamens; ovary inferior; fruit an elongated  capsule dehiscing to expose seeds, which have a plume of hairs; at least lower leaves opposite."

For the specimen(s) below, hover over image in gallery for description and select for a full screen preview.

ID: 048

Date: 12 Jun 2024

Locality: Stowe Avenue, Buckingham

Location (Lat/Long): 52.003, -0.994

Landscape/habitat: At the edge of a footpath leading along Stowe Avenue. The roadside of Stowe Avenue is managed by the National Trust as part of the Stowe Gardens estate and is an area of grassland. This specimen was on the other side of the footpath to the grassland area.

Identification notes: I saw on iNaturalist (iNaturalist, 2024) that someone had recorded willowherb here the previous day, so I went to the site to have a look. I recognised the shape and structure of the plant but for some reason I had forgotten this was a willowherb - I actually have some in my back garden!

From the description (Streeter et al., 2016, p. 306), with my observations:

• 'Tall, erect, pubescent' (Yes, photos show this is erect, and is fairly tall already - I know it will grow taller though)

• With 'dense glandular spreading hairs' (stem has hairs)

• Leaves are 'opposite, weakly clasping and decurrent' (we can see from the  photos that the leaf blade is extended down along the stem i.e. decurrent and the base of the leaf is partly surrounding the stem i.e. clasping)

• Habitat of 'disturbed ground' fits this location

• Flowers Jul-Aug, so not surprising this specimen is not flowering yet.

The stem looks quite hairy, yet this isn't Hoary Willowherb E. parviflorum as the leaves are clasping and decurrent (whereas they are not for E. parviflorum).

Name: Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum

References

iNaturalist (2024) Observations. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations (Accessed: 12 June 2024).

Streeter, D., Hart-Davies, C., Hardcastle, A., Cole, F. and Harper, L. (2016) Collins wild flower guide. Revised and updated 2nd edition. edn. London: William Collins.