Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.
Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub var. angustifolium
Chamerion spicatum (Lam.) Gray
Epilobium angustifolium L.
Epilobium angustifolium L. var. intermedium (Lange) Fernald
Epilobium spicatum Lam.
|
Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub ssp. angustifolium
Fireweed is a North American native plant. It is a robust colonizer of newly exposed land, such as that left behind from forest fires, and can carpet huge areas with its brilliant pink flowers. Identification: Plants reach 1½-8′ (50-250 cm) in height, with a single, erect stem that reddens later in the season, sometimes branching to multiple flower spikes. Spikes are 4-10″ (10-25 cm) long, with pink flowers about ½″ (1.3 cm) in diameter, each with four petals. Leaves have smooth edges, and are long and narrow, tapering to sharp tips. The leaf veins form distinctive circular loops. Seed pods are reddish-brown, about 1½″ (3.8 cm) long, splitting and curling when dry to expose silken fibers and about 80,000 seeds per plant. Edibility: Although young shoots and flowers are edible, young plants are easily confused with several highly toxic members of the lily family, so we don't recommend that you experiment. Online References:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
10/5/2023 · Quill Hill, Rangeley, Maine
10/5/2023 · Quill Hill, Rangeley, Maine Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 15 Oct 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved. |
Range:
|
