|
| Epilobium ciliatum |
| Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) |
| Flowers — color: pink, size: 1/4", type: 4 petals |
Each flower grows from a leaf node node near a stem's end. Fringed Willowherb's flower has four pink petals, longer than wide, with darker longitudinal veins. Each petal has a notch so deep it looks like two petals. Panicled willowherb has similar appearance, different leaf structure. The interior has four long and four short pink stamens, each with rounded white anthers. The pistil has a pink style and larger white stigma. As they develop, the plant's ovaries extended into 2.5 inch seedpods. This plant has travelled around the world, and other regions may have darker or paler coloring.
Habit:
This perennial may exceed six feet height. Narrow lance-shaped leaves are serrated with small teeth and may reach six inches long. Pairs of leaves attach to the stem in opposition. Fringed Willowherb carries many lateral branches from the lower leaf nodes, and one may dominate if the central stem perishes. The stem ends will branch more heavily to produce more flowering. Sunny, moister areas.
Observations:
I found this specimen in a gully below Jupiter Ave.