THE WILLOW-HERB FAMILY 
103 
This is a bewildering genus, as there are so many intermediate forms uniting the species ; 
the London Catalogue gives 33 varieties of the following 12 species. 
Rose-bay or French Willow. (Epilobium angustifolium, Linn.) — Flowers large, 
1 inch across, rose-coloured, in a terminal spike-like cluster. Sepals 4, united, separating into 
4 teeth ; petals 4, entire, clawed, unequal in size ; stamens 8, bent downwards ; stigmas 4, star-like. 
Capsule 1-2 inches long, hairy. Stem 2-4 feet high, erect and seldom branched ; the leaves 
lance-shaped, alternate, shortly stalked, entire or slightly toothed. The roots creeping. [ Plate 47. 
Not uncommon, but often an escape from gardens. Damp woods. July — August. Perennial. 
Great Hairy Willow-herb, Codlins and Cream. (Epilobium hirsutum, Linn.) — 
Flowers large, 1 inch across, fragrant, rose-coloured, in loose clusters terminating the stem and 
branches. Sepals 4 ; petals 4, deeply notched, all equal ; stamens 8, erect ; stigmas 4, star-like. 
Capsule 2-3 inches long, 4-sided, very hairy. Stem 2-5 feet high, branched and softly hairy ; the 
leaves stalkless and lance-shaped, clasping the stem at the base, opposite, toothed, softly hairy. 
[Plate 47. 
Common. Sides of streams, ditches, &c. July — September. Perennial. 
Small-flowered Hairy Willow-herb. (Epilobium parviflorum, Sehreb.) — A similar 
but much smaller plant in every way, with pale pink flowers, f inch across, star-like stigmas, erect 
buds, stem 1-2 feet high, downy, usually unbranched, and leaves lance-shaped, downy, mostly 
alternate, and shortly stalked. 
Common. Damp places. July — August. Perennial. 
Broad Smooth-leaved Willow-herb. (Epilobium montanum, Linn.) — Very similar 
to the Small-flowered Hairy Willow-herb (Epilobium parviflorum), but with slightly smaller flowers, 
star-like stigmas, drooping buds, smooth stems 6 inches to 1 foot high, and egg-shaped leaves, 
smooth, and usually opposite. 
Very common. Dry places. June — August. Perennial. 
Spear-leaved Willow-herb. (Epilobium laneeolatum, Seb. and Maur.)— A rather 
larger but similar plant to the Small-flowered Hairy Willow-herb. The flowers again a little 
smaller, deeper rose, with star-like stigmas and drooping buds ; the stem erect, slightly branched, 
slightly 4-angled, hairy ; and the leaves lance-shaped, alternate, only the lower ones opposite. 
Rare. Stony places in the south. July — September. Perennial. 
Pale Smooth-leaved Willow-herb. (Epilobium roseum, Sehreb.)— Very similar to 
the Small-flowered and the Broad Smooth-leaved Willow-herbs. The flowers very small, £ inch 
across or less, whitish with rose-coloured streaks, club-shaped stigmas, and drooping buds ; the 
capsules 1-2 inches long ; the stem 1-2 feet high, square, fragile, with 2 sharp and 2 blunt angles ; 
the leaves long-stalked, egg-shaped (ovate) to narrowly oblong. Less hairy than the preceding 
species. 
Rare. Damp woods and cultivated ground. July — September. Perennial. 
Square-stalked Willow-herb. (Epilobium adnatum, Grisebaeh.)— Flowers small, 
J inch across, pale lilac, in terminal leafy clusters ; buds erect ; petals deeply notched ; stigma 
club-shaped; capsules very long, 2^-3! inches long. [As described in the genus Epilobium]. 
The stem 1-2 feet high, erect, square ; and the leaves narrowly oblong, toothed, stalkless, shiny, 
yellowish-green. [Plate 47. 
Rare. Damp places. July — August. Perennial. 
Short-podded Square-stalked Willow-herb. (Epilobium obscurum, Sehreb.) — A 
very similar plant, with numerous deeper flow'ers ; shorter capsules ; and broader, stalkless, dull leaves. 
Common. Damp places. July — August. Perennial. 
