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

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Epilobium franciscanum Barbey
Epilobium watsonii Barbey
Epilobium watsonii var. franciscanum (Barbey) Jeps.
Epilobium watsonii var. watsonii