Fireweed, a perennial herb of the evening-primrose family, ordi- 

 narily attains a height of from 2 to 6 feet, averaging about 3 or 3~y 2 

 feet, although under the most favorable conditions, and in humid 

 climates, it may grow as tall as 9 feet. Its common name, fireweed, 

 is most appropriate, since the plant flourishes in especial abundance 

 on newly burned-off forest lands. The name blooming sally is also 

 often applied, especially when it is grown as an ornamental. In 

 common with species of the closely related genus Epilobium (in 

 which, in fact, many botanists place it) it is also called willowherb 

 and willowweed, inasmuch as the leaves and the masses of small 

 silky-haired seeds are suggestive of the foliage and cottony seeds, 

 respectively, of willows. The growth of fireweed is not restricted 

 to burns; it also occurs in openings in timbered and wooded areas, 

 around cultivated fields, and along streams, roadsides, and irrigation 

 ditches. 



Fireweed has an enormous distribution. It extends across the 

 North American continent from Labrador to Alaska and south into 

 California, New 7 Mexico, and North Carolina. It also grows in 

 Europe and Asia. Its altitudinal range is likewise great, extending 

 from near sea level in the East and in Alaska and the Northwest 

 to an elevation of 11,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. It is mod- 

 erately drought-resistant and may grow on relatively dry sites as 

 well as in moist situations, and on coarse gravelly soils as well as 

 in deep loam. 



Fireweed is undoubtedly one of the most important range forage 

 weeds, and is the most valuable member of the evening-primrose 

 family from the range standpoint. Its palatability varies from fair 

 to good or occasionally, especially in Utah and parts of Idaho, very 

 good for sheep, and from worthless to fair, averaging poor, for 

 cattle. It is grazed to some extent by horses, deer, and elk. All 

 portions of the plant are eaten when young, but as the season ad- 

 vances the stems become woody and tough, and only the flowers and 

 leaves are grazed. Growth begins early in the season and, since the 

 plants do not mature until late, palatable forage is usually produced 

 throughout the summer grazing season. 



From his studies in the Northwest, the late Douglas C. Ingram x 

 concluded : 



When other feed is available, fireweed is readily eaten at any stage of its 

 growth, although 4 years' experience on the Columbia National Forest indi- 

 cates that its most palatable stage is at full bloom. When it is the principal 

 feed, sheep become restless and unmanageable, craving a change in diet. 



An interesting point in connection with the grazing of this plant is the 

 effect of early grazing in apparently stimulating the plant to put forth growth 

 of palatable sprouts which form a supply for fall use. Although there is no 

 definite proof for the belief, it may be that the early grazing stimulates the 

 development of the latent rootstock buds which under ordinary conditions 

 might not develop until the following year. The ultimate effect is a lowering 

 of vitality and hastening of the life processes, resulting in smaller stems and 

 a lower height growth the ensuing year, and finally in a shorter life cycle. 



Since this plant is one of those which materially increase the inflammability 

 of cut-over lands, the effect of grazing in suppressing and eliminating it is 

 of particular importance. 



1 Ingram, I). C. VEGETATIVE CHANGES AND GRAZING USE ON DOUGLAS FIR CUT-OVER LAND. 

 Jour. Agr. Research [U. S.] 43:387-417, illus. 1931. 



