EPILOBIUM TETRAGONUM

Family and Genus:- See- ONAGRACEAE/Sect. EPILOBIUM

Common Names:- Square-stemmed willowherb

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Epilobium (L) A name used by Gesner the Swiss physician and

naturalist. to indicate the position of the corolla above the ovary.

Tetragonum (Gr) Four angled, square.

General description:- A rhrizomatous perennial, without stolons.

Stem:-

1) 30-75 cm, erect,sturdy, sparingly branched, subglabrous, with 4 raised lines. ±

quadrangular.

Leaves:-

1) Opposite, sessile and shortly decurrent.

2) Middle, 4~7 cm, lanceolate, finely serrate with somewhat curved teeth, bright

green.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, greyish-pubescent.

2) Pedicels, ovary and fruit appressed-puberulent, eglandular.

3) Petals, purplish-pink, 2,5-7 mm.

4) Stigma, surrounded by the anthers at anthesis.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 5-8 cm.

2) Seeds, 1-1·5 mm, obovoid.

Key features:-

1) Normally self-pollinated.

2) Petals, 2·5-7 mm.

3) Stigma, surrounded by the anthers at anthesis.

4) Leaves, oblong, ± decurrent.

5) Stem, ± quadrangular, with 4 raised lines.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Riverbanks in semi-shade under Platanus orientalis and Salix alba,

reedswamps, damp habitats along roads, ditches. 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. A widespread Euro-Siberian species.

Rare on Crete known only from a few scattered locations.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to early Sept.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton