ONAGRACE^). 



275 



1. Willow Epilobe. Epilobium angustifolium, Linn. 



(Fig. 336.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1947. French Willow. Rose-bay.) 



A handsome plant, simple or scarcely 

 branched, 2 or 4 feet high, glabrous or 

 slightly hoary, but never hairy. Root- 

 stock creeping. Leaves shortly stalked, 

 lanceolate, entire or with very minute 

 distinct teeth. Flowers large, purplish- 

 red, in long terminal racemes ; the petals 

 slightly unequal, entire, and spreading 

 from the base ; the stamens and styles 

 inclined downwards. Stigma deeply 4- 

 lobed. Pod 1 to 2 inches long, more or 

 less hoary. 



On moist banks, and in moist open 

 woods, chiefly in light soils, in Arctic 

 and northern Europe, Asia, and Worth 

 America, extending into the mountain- 

 ous districts of central Europe and Asia. 

 Widely spread over Britain, but not 

 common, and in many places introduced. 

 Fl. summer. 



Fig. 336. 



2. Great Epilobe. Epilobium hirsutum, Linn. (Fig. 337. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 838. Great Willow-herb. Codlins-and-cream.) 



Stems stout and branched, 3 or 4 or even 

 5 feet high, the whole plant softly hairy. 

 Leaves lanceolate, clasping the stem at 

 the base, and bordered with small teeth. 

 Flowers large and handsome ; the petals 

 erect at the base, spreading upwards, 

 and deeply notched. Pod very long, 

 quadrangular, and hairy. 



On the sides of ditches and rivers, and 

 in wet places, throughout Europe and 

 central and Russian Asia, except the ex- 

 treme north. Abundant in England, 

 but soon disappearing in Scotland. FL 



Fig. 337, 



