Epilobium saximontanum Hausskn.
Rocky Mountain willowherb
Onagraceae (Evening Primrose family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #20657)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Epilobium saximontanum
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Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from fleshy, scaly, underground shoots; stems 4-55 cm tall, short stiff-hairy in lines below, glandular short stiff-hairy above (in inflorescence), often with fleshy winter buds at base.
Leaves:
Lanceolate or narrowly elliptic to egg-shaped, 1-5.5 (6.5) cm long, 0.4-2.4 cm wide, entire to slightly toothed, usually clasping, glabrous, margins fringed with short, stiff hairs; more or less unstalked.
Flowers:
Inflorescence erect, sometimes nodding in bud, glandular; hypanthium 0.8-1.4 mm long; petals 2.2-5 (7) mm long, white or rarely pink, notched at tip; sepals 1.2-3.5 mm long; anthers 0.3-0.8 mm long; ovaries 0.9-3 cm long, densely hairy with short, stiff and glandular hairs; styles 1.6-2.8 mm long; stigmas club-shaped, rarely somewhat head-shaped.
Fruits:
Capsules, 2-5.5 (7) cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide, densely short stiff-hairy and glandular; usually unstalked, sometimes stalks to 5 mm long; seeds 0.9-1.8 mm long, pimply, tuft of hairs white, 3-7 mm long, readily detaching.
Notes:
Specimens from Crowsnest Pass may be from the Alberta side of the boundary, but the species should be sought in SE BC.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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.

Habitat and Range

Moist meadows and streambanks in the montane zone; rare in SE BC, known only from Crowsnest Pass; E to PQ and NF and S to NM, CA and E OR.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Epilobium drummondii Hausskn.
Epilobium glandulosum var. brionense Fernald
Epilobium scalare Fernald
Epilobium steckerianum Fernald