Epilobium ciliatum Raf. subsp. ciliatum
purple-leaved willowherb (fringed willowherb)
Onagraceae (Evening Primrose family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
purple-leaved willowherb (fringed willowherb)
Onagraceae (Evening Primrose family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Map
Distribution of Epilobium ciliatum subsp. ciliatum
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb, from basal rosettes or fleshy bulblets, lacking rhizomes; stems 15-150 cm tall, simple or branched, generally finely stiff-hairy in lines or spreading-hairy.
Leaves:
Opposite, or alternate above, lance- or lance egg-shaped, 1-15 cm long, finely sharp-toothed to almost entire, veins distinct; stalks 0-8 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal, leafy-bracted panicle or raceme, finely stiff-hairy, with some spreading and glandular hairs; hypanthium 0.5-2.6 mm long; petals 2-14 mm long, rose-purple to white, notched at tip; sepals 2-7.5 mm long, often reddish; stamens less than or equal to length of pistil; stigmas club- or head-shaped.
Fruits:
Capsules, 1.5-10 cm long, hairy; stalks 0-30 mm long; seeds 0.8-1.9 mm long, longitudinally grooved, tuft of hairs white, 2-8 mm long, readily detaching.
Notes:
Three subspecies occur in BC:
1. Stem leaves relatively narrow and not crowded around inflorescences; plants usually branched above; petals white to pale pink or purple.................. ssp. ciliatum
1. Stem leaves broad and often crowded around inflorescences; plants usually unbranched above; petals dark purple.
2. Underground scales or buds present; inflorescences loose, extended...................... ssp. glandulosum (Lehm.) Hoch & Raven
2. Underground scales or buds absent; inflorescences more or less flat-topped...................... ssp. watsonii (Barbey) Hoch & Raven
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
738 | 290 | 1190 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
3 | 0 | 7 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
112 | 45 | 180 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
6 | 4 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
C | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
13 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
SBS | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BWBS(1), ICH(3), IDF(1), SBS(8) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Wet to mesic disturbed areas, roadsides, fields and ditches from the lowland to montane zones; common throughout BC (ssp. ciliatum) to infrequent (ssp. glandulosum), or rare (ssp. watsonii) on Vancouver Island and S BC; amphiberingian, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to CA, TX and NC; E Asia.Status Information
| Scientific Name | Origin Status | Provincial Status | BC List (Red Blue List) | COSEWIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum | Native | S5 | Yellow | Not Listed |
| Epilobium ciliatum ssp. glandulosum | Native | S3S5 | Yellow | Not Listed |
| Epilobium ciliatum ssp. watsonii | Native | S3S5 | Yellow | Not Listed |
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Epilobium adenocaulon Hausskn.
Epilobium adenocaulon var. ecomosum (Fassett) Munz
Epilobium adenocaulon var. holosericeum (Trel.) Munz
Epilobium adenocaulon var. parishii (Trel.) Munz
Epilobium adenocaulon var. perplexans Trel.
Epilobium americanum Hausskn.
Epilobium brevistylum Barbey
Epilobium brevistylum var. ursinum (Parish ex Trel.) Jepson
Epilobium californicum Hausskn.
Epilobium californicum var. holosericeum (Trel.) Munz
Epilobium ciliatum var. ecomosum (Fassett) Boivin
Epilobium delicatum Trel.
Epilobium ecomosum (Fassett) Fern.
Epilobium glandulosum var. adenocaulon (Hausskn.) Fern.
Epilobium glandulosum var. ecomosum Fassett
Epilobium glandulosum var. macounii (Trel.) C.L. Hitchc.
Epilobium leptocarpum var. macounii Trel.
Epilobium ursinum Parish ex Trel.
Epilobium watsonii var. parishii (Trel.) C.L. Hitchc.