3. Epilobium hirsutum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 347. 1753; Boiss., Fl. Or. 2: 746. 1872: Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 583. 1879; Hausskn., Monogr. Epil. 53, t. I fig. 20. 1884; H. LJv., Ic. Gen. Epil. tt. 230, 231. 1911; Shteinb. in Schischk. & Bobrov, Fl. URSS 15: 578. 1949; Raven, Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Bot. 2: 352. 1962; Raven, Notes Royal Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 24: 189. 1962; Raven in Rech.f., Fl. Iran. 7: 7. 1964; Raven, Bothalia 9: 09. 1967; Raven in Tutin et al., Fl. Eur. 2: 309. 1968; Chamberlain & Raven in Davis, Fl. Turkey 4: 187. 1972; R. R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 506. 1972. (Fig. 2, C-D).
Peter C. Hoch and Peter H. Raven
Epilobium tomentosum Vent., Descr. Pl. Nouv. Jard. Cels. t. 90. 1802. (Type from Persia, cultivated in France); Epilobium sericeum Benth. ex Wall., Numer. List 216, n. 6325. 1832, nom. nud.; Epilobium laetum Wall., loc. cit., n. 6329. 1832, nom. nud., quoad B.; Epilobium hirsutum L. var. tomentosum (Vent.) Boiss., Fl. Or. 2: 746. 1872; Epilobium hirsutum L. var. sericeum (Benth. ex Wall.) Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 584. 1879; Aitch. in Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. 18: 60. 1880; Epilobium hirsutum L. var. laetum (Wall.) Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 584. 1879.
Erect robust perennial herb, spreading by thick fleshy rope like runners with scattered cataphylls; stems 0.2-2.5 m tall, well-branched, covered throughout with dense spreading long villous hairs, often mixed with short gland-tipped hairs, especially on upper stems, or rarely much less hairy. Leaves oblong lanceolate or lanceolate, 2-12 x 0.5-4.5 cm, dense villous-pubescent, sometimes mixed with glandular hairs, coarsely serrulate, acute apex, subcuneate base, sessile and clasping. Inflorescence erect and branched. Flowers erect; ovaries densely villous and glandular pubescent, 2.1-3.9 cm long, on pedicels 0.5-1.8 cm long. Sepals 6-l0 x 2-2.8 mm, apiculate, densely pubescent. Petals 6-20 x 6-14 mm, deeply notched, bright rose purple. Styles 5-11 mm long, erect. Stigma deeply 4-lobed and recurved, exserted beyond the anthers. Capsules 3-l0 cm long, on pedicels 0.5-2 cm long, villous. Seeds 0.8-1.2 x 0.4-0.5 mm, rather blunt obovoid, coarsely papillate, with an inconspicuous short chalazal collar; coma 5-7 mm, dull white, detaching easily.
Type from Europe.
A very common plant throughout much of Eurasia in disturbed places. This species varies greatly in amount and type of vestiture. Further study is needed to determine the proper status of glabrous plants from the western Himalaya sometimes segregated as E. hirsutum var. laetum C.B. Clarke. Fl. Per.: Jun-Sep. Fr. Per.: Jul-Sep; Distribution: Temperate and montane Eurasia and Africa; common in temperate Pakistan and throughout the Himalayan region; adventive in North America.
