NEW ZEALAND WILLOWHERB

Epilobium Brunnescens

Willowherb [Onagraceae]

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flower
flower8pink		 inner
inner8white		 morph
morph8actino		 petals
petalsZ4		 stem
stem8round

2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
A short sprawling plant with tiny flowers on absurdly long stalks. Here growing amongst Parsley Fern.


2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
Four deeply-nicked petals, surrounded by four greeny-red sepals, each with a pinkish-red bobble at the otherwise pointed tip. The very long stalk has four parallel grooves where it splits to released the feathered seeds.


2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
The seeds are contained in the slightly thickened upper half of the extremely long flower stalk.


2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
Four pinkish-white petals surround a white fuzzy bobble held above cream-coloured anthers.


2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
The leaves are in pairs opposite each other all the way along the stems. The leaves


23rd July 2010. Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
The very lengthy seed pods split open into four strips along their length to reveal the seeds neatly packed within.


23rd July 2010. Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
Each seed has its own pappus, or 'parachute' of hairs to aid dispersion by wind.


2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
The seeds having now flown from the fully-opened pods.


2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
The leaves are oval with an 80 degree bend down the middle which stops a little over half-way along to the tip.


2nd Sept 2010, Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia. Photo: © RWD
Leaf stalks are very short, and seem to emerge from around the back of the stem.

Hybridises with :

  • American Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum) to produce Epilobium × brunnatum
  • Spear-leaved Willowherb (Epilobium lanceolatum) to produce Epilobium × cornubiense
  • Broad Leaved Willowherb (Epilobium montanum) to produce Epilobium × confusilobum
  • Short-fruited Willowherb (Epilobium obscurum) to produce Epilobium × obscurescen
  • Marsh Willowherb (Epilobium palustre) to produce Epilobium × chateri
  • Hoary Willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum) to produce Epilobium × argillaceum

Of the above hybrids, and given the location of the above photographs (Llyn Idwal), there are NO Willowherbs that it could possibly be hybridised with: giving a positive identification.

The leaves have some similarities to : some Scurveygrasses. The flowers even has the same number of petals (4), but in the case of New Zealand Willowherb, are on massively longer stalks.

No relation to : Willows [trees with similar name].

The massively long stalks upon which the tiny flowers perch become the seed pods, which, when ripe, split lengthways into four long straw-like long, thin, narrow blades, releasing the seeds which are on feathery parachutes.

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Distribution
family8Willowherb family8Onagraceae
BSBI maps
genus8Epilobium
Epilobium
(Willowherbs)

NEW ZEALAND WILLOWHERB

Epilobium Brunnescens

Willowherb [Onagraceae]