Peter C. Hoch and Peter H. Raven

Epilobium origanifolium sensu Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 586. 1879, pro parte; non Lam.

Delicate low-growing perennial herb, forming clumps by vigorous soboliferous growth; stems 5-12 cm tall, branched from the base, sub-glabrous or sparsely strigillose, with indistinct lines decurrent from the margins of the petioles. Leaves elliptic to subovate, 1-2.2 x 0.5-1 cm, subglabrous with scattered hairs on the margins, indistinct serrulate, rounded at both ends, subsessile. Inflorescence suberect, glabrescent or sparsely strigillose. Ovaries 1.2-1.8 cm long, moderate strigillose and glandular pubescent. Sepals 2.8-3.3 x 0.9-1.2 mm. Petals 3-4.5 mm long, purplish-rose. Style 1.2-1.9 mm long. Stigma clavate, surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules 3-4.5 cm long, on pedicels 0.4-1.2 cm long. Seeds 0.9-1.1 x 0.36-0.4 mm, obovoid, barely papillose, inconspicuous chalazal collar; comas 4-5 mm long, white, deciduous.

Lectotype: India, Punjab, west of Lara, Spiti Valley, 4 Sep. 1847, Thomson s.n. (K).

Distribution: Western Himalaya from Chitral to Baltistan and Ladak.

Few new collections have been made of this small rare alpine species since Raven (1962) reported on it. It may be related to the group of species characterized by Haussknecht as the Alpinae, and seems especially similar to E. anagallidifolium, a circumboreal species included by Raven (1964) in the Flora of Turkey. More collections of the small alpine plants of Himalayan region are needed before any definitive treatment of these plants will be possible. Fl. Per.: Jul-Sep. Fr. Per.: Jul-Sep (-Oct).