18. Epilobium minutiflorum Hausskn., Oesterr. Bot. Z. 29: 55. 1879; Monogr. Epil. 212, t. 4 fig. 40. 1884; Aitch., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 29: 163. 1892; H. LJv., Ic. Gen. Epil, t. 135. 1910; Shteinb. in Schischk. & Bobrov, Fl. URSS 15: 620. 1949; Raven, Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Bot. 2: 382. 1962; Notes Royal Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 24: 195. 1962; in Rech. f., Fl. Iran. 7: 13. 1964; Chamberlain & Raven in Davis, Fl. Turkey 4: 180. 1972; Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 506. 1972.
Peter C. Hoch and Peter H. Raven
Epilobium modestum Hausskn, Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschr. 29: 55. 1879; Monogr. Epil. 211. 1884; H. LJv., Ic. Gen. Epil. t. 134. 1910; Shteinb. in Schischk. & Bobr., Fl. URSS 15: 620. 1949. Lectotype: Ladakh, Nubra Valley, 4 Aug. 1848, Thomson s.n. (K). Epilobium palustre sensu Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 585. 1879, pro parte, non L. Epilobium tetragonum sensu Aitch., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 18: 60. 1880, pro parte, non L.
Erect perennial herb, sprouting from the base or forming leafy basal rosettes; stem 10-75 cm tall, well-branched, with raised strigillose lines decurrent from the margins of the petioles, dense strigillose throughout or only above, then glabrescent below, rarely with glandular hairs on inflorescence. Leaves 2-8 x 0.5-2.3 cm, oblong-lanceolate, glabrous except for strigillose margins and veins, margins serrulate, apex subacute, cuneate base, subsessile. Inflorescence erect, dense canescent, rarely mixed with glandular hairs. Sepals 2.5-3 mm long, white-canescent. Petals 3-4.5 mm long, white to pale pink. Style 1.8-2.2 mm. Stigma clavate, surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules 3.5-6 cm long, on pedicels 1-2.1 cm long. Seeds 0.8-1.1 x 0.32-0.42 mm, obovoid or narrowly so, papillose, the chalazal collar rather inconspicuous, 0.02-0.06 mm long; coma 4-5.5 mm, dingy white, deciduous.
Lectotype: Turkey, Gaziantep ("Aintab"), banks of the River Sadsihur (Sajur Suyi?), 26.6.1865, Haussknecht 812 (JE).
Although a distinctive species by virtue of its minute flowers and white-canescent ovaries, E. minutiflorum is quite variable, and often similar in aspect to E. cylindricum, with which it is most often confused. Because it grows in a wide range of habitats, and extends particularly into lower elevations than most Epilobium in the region (including several collections from Baluchistan), E. minutiflorum has a longer growing season than other species. Fl. Per.: May-Oct. Fr. Per.: Jun-Nov; Distribution: Central Anatolia in Turkey eastwards to Kumaun in the Himalaya.
