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 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 ssp. angustifolium description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 15 Oct 2023. |
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