OXAGRACEAE. 



VOL. II. 



4. Epilobium palustre L. Marsh or Swamp 

 \\illo\v-herb. Fig. 3030. 



Epilobium palustre L. Sp. PI. 348. 1753. 



Epilobium oligantlium Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1 : 223. 1803. 



Erect or decumbent, slender, usually simple, 6'-iS' high, 

 perennial by subterranean shoots or stolonif erous, canes- 

 cent above with incurved hairs, the stem terete. Leaves 

 mostly opposite, sessile, oblong, or lanceolate-oblong, 

 the lower often obtuse or subtruncate at the apex, 

 i'-2i' long, i"-2i" wide, erect or ascending, distinctly 

 veined; flowers few in the upper axils, pink or whit- 

 ish, usually nodding at first, 2"-3" broad ; stigma entire 

 or nearly so; fruiting peduncles slender; capsules i'-2' 

 long, slightly more than \" thick, canescent; seeds 

 about \" long, a little papillose, translucent, the apex 

 scarcely narrowed ; coma pale. 



In bogs, Newfoundland to Alaska, south to Massachu- 

 setts, Ontario, Colorado and Washington.. Also in Europe 

 and Asia. Consists of several races differing in size and 

 texture of leaves. Wickup. Summer. 



5. Epilobium lineare Muhl. Linear-leaved 

 Willow-herb. Fig. 3031. 



Epilobium lineare Muhl. Cat. 39. 1813. 

 E. densum Raf. in Desv. Journ. Bot. 2: 271. 1814. 

 Epilobium palustre var. lineare A Gray, Man-. Ed. 2, 130. 

 1856. 



Slender, erect, canescent throughout with incurved 

 hairs, i-2 high, at length much branched, perennial 

 by subterranean shoots. Leaves linear or linear- 

 lanceolate, mostly short-petioled, opposite or alter- 

 nate, erect or ascending, acute at both ends, entire 

 or very nearly so, i'-2' long, \"-2" wide, the veins 

 obscure, the margins revolute ; flowers few or numer- 

 ous in the upper axils, erect, pink or whitish, ^"-4" 

 broad; stigma entire or slightly notched; pedicels 

 mostly slender; capsules about 2' long, finely canes- 

 cent; seeds less than i" long, slightly papillose, the 

 coma dingy 



In swamps, New Brunswick to Delaware, west to Brit- 

 ish Columbia, West Virginia, Kansas and Colorado. 

 July-Sept. Sometimes produces bulblets near the base 

 of the stem. 



6. Epilobium strictum Muhl. Downy or 

 Soft Willow-herb. Fig. 3032. 



Epilobium strictum Muhl. Cat. 39. 1813 



Epilobium molle Torr. Fl. U. S. i : 393. 1824. Not 

 Lam. 1805. 



Erect, usually much branched, i-3 high, 

 densely pubescent with whitish somewhat spread- 

 ing hairs, perennial by subterranean shoots. 

 Leaves sessile, ascending, broader than those of 

 the preceding species, short-lanceolate, obtuse or 

 obtusish, Q"-2o" long, 2"-^" wide, alternate or 

 opposite, mostly entire, evidently veined ; flowers 

 in the upper axils, pink or whitish, about 2" 

 broad; stigma entire or nearly so; capsules 2" -3" 

 long, nearly i" thick, short-peduncled, canescent ; 

 seeds obconic, papillose ; coma dingy. 



Bogs, Quebec to Athabasca, Virginia, Illinois and 

 Minnesota. July-Sept. 



