Epilobium tetragonum. Square - Stalk’d Willow-Herb. 
EPILOBIUM Llmteei. Gen. PI. Octaothia Monogynia. 
Cal 4-fidus. Petala 4. Caps, oblonga, Infera. Sent, pappofa. 
Kali Syn. Gen. 22. Herb* vascu lurry: flore tetrapetalo akomall. 
EPILOBIUM tetragonum foliis lanceolatis denticulatis ; caule tetragono ; ftigmate integerrimo. 
EPILOBIUM foliis lanceolatis denticulatis ; imis oppofitis, caule tetragono. Lm. Syjl. Vegetat, p. 297. 
Sp. Piant. 495. 
EPILOBIUM foliis lanceolatis, glabris, dentatis. Haller, hjjl. p. 426. n. ,997. 
CHAMyENERION tetragonum. Scopoli. Flor. Carniol. p. 271. 454- 
LYSIMACHIA filiquofa glabra media five minor. Gerard, emac. 479. 
LYSIMACHIA filiquofa glabra minor. Bauhin. Pin. 245. Raii. Syn. p. 31 1. 5, Middle fmooth-leaved 
codded Willow-herb, or Loofeftrife. 
Hudfon FI. Angl. ed. 1. p. 141. ed. 2. p. 162, 
Lightfoot. Fl. Scot. p. 198. 
RADIX perennis, fibrofa, fibris albidis, ftolonibus quo- 
tannis reparata, non vero repens. 
CAULIS ereCtus, fuperne valde ramofus, bipedalis, 
rigidus, inferne purpurafcens, fubtetragonus, 
lasvis. 
FOLIA fubdecurrentia, unde caulis angulofus, inferi- 
ora lanceolata, fuperiora lineari-lanceolata, 
ferrata, venofa, glabra. 
FLORES parvi, purpurei. 
CALYX : Perianthium quadripartitum, foliis lan- 
ceolato-acuminatis, pubefcentibus, carinatis, 
apicibus rufis, fig. I. 
COROLLA: Petala quatuor, purpurea, venis fa- 
turatioribus fiepe ftriata, calyce paulo longio- 
ra, emarginata, fig. 2. 
STAMINA : Filamenta oCto, quorum quatuor bre- 
viora: Anther.® flavefcentes, fig. 3. 
PISTILLUM : Germen tetragonum, pubefcens : Sty- 
lus brevis, albus : Stigma craflum, album, 
integerrimum , fig. 4. 
PERICARPIUM : Capsula longiffima, fere triunci- 
alis, pedunculis triplo brevioribus infidens. 
SEMINA plurima, pappofa-i 
ROOT perennial, fibrous, the fibres whitifh, repaired 
yearly by new ftioots, but not creeping. 
STALK upright, at top much branched, about two 
feet high, ftiff, at bottom purplifh, fmooth, 
and fomewhat fquare. 
LEAVES fomewhat decurrent, whence the angular 
appearance of the ftalk ; the lower ones lan- 
ceolate ; the upper ones narrower, lerrated, 
veiny, and fmooth. 
FLOWERS fmall and purple. 
I CALYX : a Perianthium divided into four fegments, 
i which are narrow and tapering to a point, 
I downy, the midrib projecting on the under 
¥ fide, the tips reddifh, fig. 1. 
I COROLLA : four Petals, purple, often ftreaked 
i with veins of a deeper colour, fomewhat longer 
I than the calyx, with a notch at top, fig. 2. 
* 
I STAMINA: eight Filaments, four long and four 
I ftiort: Anther® yellowilh, fig. 3. 
4 
I PISTILLUM: Germen fquare, downy : Style fhort 
I and white : Stigma thick, white, zndper- 
I fedily entire, fig. 4. 
t SEED-VESSEL a very long Capsule, approaching 
I to three inches, fitting on a flower-ftalk thrice 
¥ as Ihort. 
4 
y SEEDS numerous and downy. 
THE prefent fpecies of Epilobium, takes Its name of tetragonum from the apparent fquarenefs of its ftalk, which 
however is not fo completely fquare as that of the Hypericum quadrangulum, but aflumes rather an angular appear- 
ance, ariling as in many other plants, from projecting lines running from the leaves down the ftalk : this however 
is one of the moil ftriking characters of this fpecies : to which may be added the narrownefs of its leaves, the un- 
common length of its pods, and its undivided ftigma.* Thefe are the peculiarities by .which this plant may rea- 
dily be diftiiiguilhed : but too much ftrefs muft not be laid on fome of them. 
The breadth of a leaf, its being placed on a peduncle, or fitting clofe to the ftalk, are in general confidered as 
excellent fpecific characters; but in this plant, as well as fome others, we have a proof of their fallibility; the 
leaves being fometimes nearly as broad as thofe of the montanum, and placed onfoot-ftalks of a confiderable length. 
When I firft accidently met with this variety, 1 was led to conclude it to be a diftinCt fpecies ; but a careful at-> 
tention to it, afterwards convinced me it was only a variety. 
The Epilobium tetragonum is no uncommon plant with us ; but is generally to be met with in watery ditches, 
bv the fides of roads ; and where it does occur, it ufually abounds. Among a variety of other places, I have 
obferved it in the Lane leading from Newington to Hornfey Wood. 
It flowers with the other Willow-herbs. 
The farmer has no reafon to complain of it : nor is it celebrated in the annals of phyfic. 
•Ttis cluit&er feems firft. to have been noticed by Ray : his words are Stylus non ut in pracedentt quadrifidus ejt, Hift. PI. p. 86 L 
