Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin

Epilobium coloratum Biehler

Family: Onagraceae

cinnamon willow-herb, eastern willow-herb

Emmet J. Judziewicz

Joanne Kline

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium (UWSP)

Open Interactive Map

Etymology: Epilobium: from 2 Greek words epi, "upon," and lobos, "a pod or capsule," as the flower and capsule appear together, the corolla being borne on the end of the ovary
Plants: erect, perennial, 2'-3' tall forb; stems usually with many branches
Leaves: mostly opposite, oblong to lance-like with sharp, irregular teeth
Flowers: pink to white, 4-parted, 1/3" wide, petals notched; inflorescence a cluster (raceme) of many, stalked flowers; blooms July-Oct.
Fruits: capsule, seeds with brown tufts of hair at the top
Habitat: wet; meadows, streambanks
Conservation Status: Native

Common in a wide range of wet areas similar to E. ciliatum, including bogs, swamps, sedge meadows, marshes, wet thickets, stream banks, lake shores, moist beaches, and damp sandstone cliffs. Epilobium ciliatum and E. coloratum occasionally hybridize, producing E. x wisconsinense Ugent. Although most seeds produced by the putative hybrid are aborted, some mature seeds develop that are striate-papillose with a brown or tawny coma. The hybrid resembles E. coloratum in serrulate leaves, bushy-branched inflorescence, and seed characters. Epilobium ciliatum subsp. glandulosum frequently grows with E. coloratum and flowers about 2--3 weeks earlier.