FIREWEED 



Chamaene'rion angustifo'lium, syns. Epilo'bium angustifo'lium, E. spica'tum 



Leaves -up to 8 in. long, narrowly 

 lance-shaped, alternate, stalkless or 

 nearly so, green above, pale and veiny 

 beneath, the edges entire; veins united 

 near margin of leur to form network 



Stems erect, up to 9 ft. high 



Petals 4, purple or rose-colored, large 

 (up to '4 in. long), broadly reverse-egg- 

 shaped 



Outer flower parts (sepals) 4, often 

 pink or purplish, somewhat hairy, 

 united below into a very short tube, at- 

 tached to top of seed-producing organ 

 (inferior ovary) 



Stamens 8, purple, 4 alternate ones 

 longer than the other 4 



Pollen-receiving 



lobed 



organ (stigma) 4- 



Flower clusters elongated, each flower 

 stalked and with a small slender bract; 

 buds drooping but (lowers and fruit 

 erect 



Seed pods (capsules) up to 3 in. long, 

 stalked, very narrow, 4-sided, 4-celled, 

 splitting by 4 valves 



Seeds numerous, small, each with a 

 tuft of fine, silky, white hairs 



Rootstock extensive, underground, 

 with buds wliich give rise to new steins 



