17. Epilobium palustre Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. l: 348. 1753; Boiss., Fl. Or. 2: 748. 1872; Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 585. 1879; Hausskn., Monogr. Epil. 128, t. 2 fig. 30. 1884; H. LJv., Ic. Gen. Epil, tt. 260, 261. 1911; Shteinb. in Schischk. & Bobr., Fl. URSS 15 : 613. 1949; Raven, Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Bot. 2: 381. 1962; Notes Royal Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 24: 195. 1962; in Rech. f., Fl. Iran. 7: 12. 1964; in Tutin et al., Fl. Eur. 2: 310. 1968; Chamberlain & Raven in Davis, Fl. Turkey 4: 192. 1.972; Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 507. 1972.
Peter C. Hoch and Peter H. Raven
Epilobium palustre L. var. typicum Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 585. 1879. Epilobium palustre L. var. majus Clarke in Hook. f., loc. cit. 2: 585. 1879. (No authentic material seen.) Epilobium palustre L. var. minimum Clarke in Hook. f., loc. cit. 2: 586. 1879. Lectotype: Kashmir: Deosai, 3950 m, 31.7.1876, Clarke 29816 (K).
Erect variable perennial herb, forming filiform epigaeous stolons with widely spaced small leaves, often terminating in condensed dark small turions; stems 5-70 cm tall, terete, simple or well-branched in larger plants, subglabrous below except for strigillose lines decurrent from the margins of the petioles, dense strigillose above. Leaves sublinear to narrow lanceolate, 1.5-7 x 0.2-1.9 cm, subglabrous except for strigillose margins and veins, entire to obscurely denticulate, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate, sessile. Inflorescence nodding in bud, dense strigillose, usually eglandular. Ovaries 2.1-3 cm long, densely canescent. Sepals 2.5-4.5 mm long, strigillose. Petals 3-9 mm long, white or rarely pink. Style 2-3.8 mm long. Stigma clavate to cylindrical, surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules 3-9 cm long, pubescent, on pedicels 1.5-3.5 cm long. Seeds 1.4-2.2 x 0.38-0.54 mm, elliptic-attenuate or fusiform, very finely papillose, the chalazal collar 0.08-0.24 mm long, very conspicuous; comas 5-7 mm long, white, quite persistent.
Type from Europe.
Distribution: Circumboreal, in the Himalaya from Kashmir to Nepal and Southern Tibet.
This extremely widespread circumboreal species occurs only sporadically in the Himalayan region; Raven's (1962) suggestion that it entered the region relatively recently from the west may account for this sparse distribution. Although specimens of E. palustre vary greatly in stature and in size of leaves, flowers, etc., this variation is highly reticulate and lacks any obvious geographical or ecological basis; we therefore treat the species without any infraspecific taxa. Fl. Per.: Jun-Aug. Fr. Per.: Jul-Sep.