Epilobium ciliatum
(Fringed Willowherb)
Epilobium hornemannii, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 6926
Epilobium ciliatum, Miner’s Creek, Frisco, Summit Co. 6072
Epilobium ciliatum, Miner’s Creek, Frisco, Summit Co. 6080
Epilobium ciliatum, Miner’s Creek, Frisco, Summit Co. 5976
Epilobium ciliatum, Miner’s Creek, Frisco, Summit Co. 5978
| Scientific Name | Epilobium ciliatum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | EPCI |
| Common Name | Fringed Willowherb | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 27293 |
| 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. The photos above from Miner's Creek were taken in a very wet, forested area. Plant: Highly variable species; erect perennial 8 to 48 inches tall, may be branched or not; upper stems with short, glandular hairs. Leaves: Lower leaves alternate becoming opposite nearer the inflorescence; lower blades are narrowly obovate, obovate, broadly elliptic, or spatulate; upper leaves are very narrowly lanceolate to ovate or broadly elliptic, from 1-1/8 to 4-3/4 inches long; edges have 15 to 40 small, irregular teeth on each side; surfaces have prominent veins, 4 to 10 per side. Inflorescence: Erect, 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; sepals are lanceolate, half or less the length of the petals and often reddish green. Bloom Period: June to August. Fruit: Erect, long, slender, reddish-tinged capsules, 1.2 to 4 inches long, that split open along 4 lines to release many small seeds, each 1 mm long with a dandelion-like tuft of white hairs attached to the top. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Flora of North America, SEINet and SW Colorado Wildflowers. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains