265 Species of Genus Epilobium

Epilobium: A Personal Exploration of Willowherbs

As a botanist, I’ve always been fascinated by the diversity and resilience of plant life. One genus that has particularly captured my attention is Epilobium, more commonly known as willowherbs. These plants, with their delicate flowers and remarkable adaptability, can be found thriving in a variety of environments across the globe. From the vibrant fireweed that blankets burnt landscapes to the unassuming marsh willowherb found in wetlands, Epilobium species showcase nature’s artistry and tenacity.

What is Epilobium?

Epilobium is a genus of around 200 species of flowering plants belonging to the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). They are typically herbaceous, meaning they lack woody stems, and can be either annual or perennial. The leaves are usually lance-shaped and arranged oppositely on the stem, and their flowers are often pink, purple, or white with four petals. What truly sets Epilobium apart, however, is its ability to colonize disturbed ground. Some species, like the fireweed, are even known to be pioneer species, quickly establishing themselves in areas ravaged by fire.

A Diverse Genus: Epilobium Species

The sheer variety within the Epilobium genus is astounding. Here are:

1. Epilobium × abortivum Hausskn.
2. Epilobium × aggregatum Čelak.
3. Epilobium aitchisonii P.H.Raven
4. Epilobium algidum M.Bieb.
5. Epilobium alpestre (Jacq.) Krock.
6. Epilobium alsinifolium Vill.
7. Epilobium alsinoides A.Cunn.
8. Epilobium × amphibolum Hausskn.
9. Epilobium amurense Hausskn.
10. Epilobium anagallidifolium Lam.
11. Epilobium anatolicum Hausskn.
12. Epilobium anglicum E.S.Marshall
13. Epilobium angustifolium L.
14. Epilobium angustum (Cheeseman) P.H.Raven & Engelhorn
15. Epilobium arcticum Sam.
16. Epilobium × argillaceum Kitch.
17. Epilobium arvernense Rouy & E.G.Camus
18. Epilobium × aschersonianum Hausskn.
19. Epilobium astonii (Allan) P.H.Raven & Engelhorn
20. Epilobium atlanticum Litard. & Maire
21. Epilobium australe Poepp. & Hausskn.
22. Epilobium barbeyanum H.Lév.
23. Epilobium billardiereanum Ser.
24. Epilobium blinii H.Lév.
25. Epilobium × boissieri Hausskn.
26. Epilobium × borbasianum Hausskn.
27. Epilobium × brachiatum Čelak.
28. Epilobium brachycarpum C.Presl
29. Epilobium brevifolium D.Don
30. Epilobium brevipes Hook.f.
31. Epilobium × brevipilum Hausskn.
32. Epilobium brevisquamatum P.H.Raven
33. Epilobium × brunnatum Kitch. & McKean
34. Epilobium brunnescens (Cockayne) P.H.Raven & Engelhorn
35. Epilobium campestre (Jeps.) Hoch & W.L.Wagner
36. Epilobium canum (Greene) P.H.Raven
37. Epilobium capense Buchinger ex Krauss
38. Epilobium × celakovskyanum Hausskn.
39. Epilobium × chateri Kitch. & McKean
40. Epilobium chionanthum Hausskn.
41. Epilobium chitralense P.H.Raven
42. Epilobium chlorifolium Hausskn.
43. Epilobium ciliatum Raf.
44. Epilobium clarkeanum Hausskn.
45. Epilobium clavatum Trel.
46. Epilobium cleistogamum (Curran) Hoch & P.H.Raven
47. Epilobium cockayneanum Petrie
48. Epilobium colchicum Albov
49. Epilobium collinum C.C.Gmel.
50. Epilobium coloratum Biehler
51. Epilobium confertifolium Hook.f.
52. Epilobium × confine Hausskn.
53. Epilobium × confusilobum Kitch. & McKean
54. Epilobium confusum Hausskn.
55. Epilobium conjungens Skottsb.
56. Epilobium conspersum Hausskn.
57. Epilobium × cornubiense Kitch. & McKean
58. Epilobium crassum Hook.f.
59. Epilobium curtisiae P.H.Raven
60. Epilobium cylindricum D.Don
61. Epilobium × dacicum Borbás
62. Epilobium × dasycarpum Fr.
63. Epilobium davuricum Fisch. ex Hornem.
64. Epilobium × decipiens F.W.Schultz
65. Epilobium densiflorum (Lindl.) Hoch & P.H.Raven
66. Epilobium densifolium Hausskn.
67. Epilobium densum Raf.
68. Epilobium denticulatum Ruiz & Pav.
69. Epilobium detznerianum Schltr. ex Diels
70. Epilobium dodonaei Vill.
71. Epilobium duriaei J.Gay ex Godr.
72. Epilobium elegans Petrie
73. Epilobium × erroneum Hausskn.
74. Epilobium × fallacinum Hausskn.
75. Epilobium fangii C.J.Chen, Hoch & P.H.Raven
76. Epilobium fastigiatoramosum Nakai
77. Epilobium fauriei H.Lév.
78. Epilobium × finitimum Hausskn.
79. Epilobium fleischeri Hochst.
80. Epilobium × floridulum Smejkal
81. Epilobium forbesii Allan
82. Epilobium × fossicola Smejkal
83. Epilobium fragile Sam.
84. Epilobium fugitivum P.H.Raven & Engelhorn
85. Epilobium gemmascens C.A.Mey.
86. Epilobium × gemmiferum Boreau
87. Epilobium × gerstlaueri Rubner
88. Epilobium glabellum G.Forst.
89. Epilobium glaberrimum Barbey
90. Epilobium glaciale P.H.Raven
91. Epilobium × glanduligerum K.Knaf
92. Epilobium glaucum Phil.
93. Epilobium × goerzii Rubner
94. Epilobium gouldii P.H.Raven
95. Epilobium gracilipes Kirk
96. Epilobium × grenieri Rouy & E.G.Camus
97. Epilobium griffithianum Hausskn.
98. Epilobium gunnianum Hausskn.
99. Epilobium × gutteanum Gnüchtel
100. Epilobium hallianum Hausskn.
101. Epilobium × haussknechtianum Borbás
102. Epilobium × haynaldianum Hausskn.
103. Epilobium × hectori-leveilleanum Thell.
104. Epilobium hectorii Hausskn.
105. Epilobium × heterocaulon Borbás
106. Epilobium hirsutum L.
107. Epilobium hirtigerum A.Cunn.
108. Epilobium hohuanense S.S.Ying
109. Epilobium hooglandii P.H.Raven
110. Epilobium hornemannii Rchb.
111. Epilobium howellii Hoch
112. Epilobium × huteri Borbás ex Hausskn.
113. Epilobium indicum Hausskn.
114. Epilobium insulare Hausskn.
115. Epilobium × interjectum Smejkal
116. Epilobium × intersitum Hausskn.
117. Epilobium × jinshaense P.H.Raven & H.Li
118. Epilobium karsteniae Compton
119. Epilobium × keredjense Bornm. & Gauba
120. Epilobium kermodei P.H.Raven
121. Epilobium keysseri Diels
122. Epilobium kingdonii P.H.Raven
123. Epilobium × kitcheneri McKean
124. Epilobium komarovianum H.Lév.
125. Epilobium komarovii Ovcz.
126. Epilobium korshinskyi Morozova
127. Epilobium × krausei R.Uechtr. & Hausskn.
128. Epilobium lactiflorum Hausskn.
129. Epilobium ladakhianum T.K.Paul
130. Epilobium laestadii Kytöv.
131. Epilobium × lamotteanum Hausskn.
132. Epilobium lanceolatum Sebast. & Mauri
133. Epilobium × langeanum Hausskn.
134. Epilobium × laschianum Hausskn.
135. Epilobium latifolium L.
136. Epilobium laxum Royle
137. Epilobium leiophyllum Hausskn.
138. Epilobium leptocarpum Hausskn.
139. Epilobium leptophyllum Raf.
140. Epilobium × limosum Schur
141. Epilobium lipschitzii Pachom.
142. Epilobium luteum Pursh
143. Epilobium macropus Hook.
144. Epilobium margaretiae Brockie
145. Epilobium × marshallianum Hausskn.
146. Epilobium matthewsii Petrie
147. Epilobium maysillesii Munz
148. Epilobium melanocaulon Hook.
149. Epilobium × mentiens Smejkal
150. Epilobium microphyllum A.Rich.
151. Epilobium minutiflorum Hausskn.
152. Epilobium minutum Lindl. ex Lehm.
153. Epilobium mirabile Trel. ex Piper
154. Epilobium × montaniforme K.Knaf ex Čelak.
155. Epilobium montanum L.
156. Epilobium nanhualpinum S.S.Ying
157. Epilobium nankotaizanense Yamam.
158. Epilobium × neogradiense Borbás
159. Epilobium nerterioides A.Cunn.
160. Epilobium nevadense Munz
161. Epilobium nivale Meyen
162. Epilobium nivium Brandegee
163. Epilobium × novae-civitatis Smejkal
164. Epilobium nummulariifolium R.Cunn. ex A.Cunn.
165. Epilobium nutans F.W.Schmidt
166. Epilobium × nutantiflorum Smejkal
167. Epilobium obcordatum A.Gray
168. Epilobium × obscurescens Kitch. & McKean
169. Epilobium obscurum Schreb.
170. Epilobium oreganum Greene
171. Epilobium oregonense Hausskn.
172. Epilobium × palatinum F.W.Schultz
173. Epilobium pallidiflorum Sol. ex A.Cunn.
174. Epilobium pallidum (Eastw.) Hoch & P.H.Raven
175. Epilobium palustre L.
176. Epilobium pannosum Hausskn.
177. Epilobium parviflorum Schreb.
178. Epilobium pedicellare C.Presl
179. Epilobium pedunculare A.Cunn.
180. Epilobium pengii C.J.Chen, Hoch & P.H.Raven
181. Epilobium × percollinum Simonk.
182. Epilobium pernitens Cockayne & Allan
183. Epilobium perpusillum Hausskn.
184. Epilobium × persicinum Rchb.
185. Epilobium petraeum Heenan
186. Epilobium pictum Petrie
187. Epilobium platystigmatosum C.B.Rob.
188. Epilobium ponticum Hausskn.
189. Epilobium porphyrium G.Simpson
190. Epilobium × prionophylloides Hand.-Mazz.
191. Epilobium prostratum Warb.
192. Epilobium × pseudotrigonum Borbás
193. Epilobium psilotum Maire & Sam.
194. Epilobium pubens A.Rich.
195. Epilobium puberulum Hook. & Arn.
196. Epilobium × pulchrum Suksd.
197. Epilobium purpuratum Hook.f.
198. Epilobium × purpureum Fr.
199. Epilobium pycnostachyum Hausskn.
200. Epilobium pyrricholophum Franch. & Sav.
201. Epilobium ravenii Hoch & Gandhi
202. Epilobium rechingeri P.H.Raven
203. Epilobium × reedii H.Lév.
204. Epilobium rhynchospermum Hausskn.
205. Epilobium rigidum Hausskn.
206. Epilobium × rivulare Wahlenb.
207. Epilobium × rivulicola Hausskn.
208. Epilobium roseum (Schreb.) Schreb.
209. Epilobium rostratum Cheeseman
210. Epilobium rotundifolium G.Forst.
211. Epilobium royleanum Hausskn.
212. Epilobium rubromarginatum Cockayne
213. Epilobium salignum Hausskn.
214. Epilobium sarmentaceum Hausskn.
215. Epilobium saximontanum Hausskn.
216. Epilobium × schmidtianum Rostk.
217. Epilobium × schulzeanum Hausskn.
218. Epilobium semiamplexicaule H.J.Chowdhery & S.Singh
219. Epilobium septentrionale (D.D.Keck) Bowman & Hoch
220. Epilobium × sericeum Bernh.
221. Epilobium sikkimense Hausskn.
222. Epilobium × similatum Hausskn.
223. Epilobium × simulatum Hausskn.
224. Epilobium sinense H.Lév.
225. Epilobium siskiyouense (Munz) Hoch & P.H.Raven
226. Epilobium smithii H.Lév.
227. Epilobium speciosum Decne.
228. Epilobium spitianum H.J.Chowdhery & Murti
229. Epilobium staintonii P.H.Raven
230. Epilobium stereophyllum Fresen.
231. Epilobium stevenii Boiss.
232. Epilobium stracheyanum Hausskn.
233. Epilobium subalgidum Hausskn.
234. Epilobium subcoriaceum Hausskn.
235. Epilobium subdentatum (Meyen) Lievens & Hoch
236. Epilobium suffruticosum Nutt.
237. Epilobium × surreyanum E.S.Marshall
238. Epilobium taiwanianum C.J.Chen, Hoch & P.H.Raven
239. Epilobium tasmanicum Hausskn.
240. Epilobium tetragonum L.
241. Epilobium thermophilum Paulsen
242. Epilobium × thuringiacum Hausskn.
243. Epilobium tianschanicum Pavlov
244. Epilobium tibetanum Hausskn.
245. Epilobium tonkinense H.Lév.
246. Epilobium torreyi (S.Watson) Hoch & P.H.Raven
247. Epilobium × treleaseanum H.Lév.
248. Epilobium trichophyllum Hausskn.
249. Epilobium tulinianum S.S.Ying
250. Epilobium turkestanicum Pazij & Vved.
251. Epilobium × udicola Hausskn.
252. Epilobium × uechtritzianum Pax
253. Epilobium ulleungensis J.Chung
254. Epilobium vernicosum Cheeseman
255. Epilobium vernonicum Snogerup
256. Epilobium verticillatum W.X.Wang, W.Y.Guo & Y.S.Fu
257. Epilobium × vicinum Smejkal
258. Epilobium wallichianum Hausskn.
259. Epilobium × waterfallii E.S.Marshall
260. Epilobium wattianum Hausskn.
261. Epilobium williamsii P.H.Raven
262. Epilobium willisii P.H.Raven & Engelhorn
263. Epilobium wilsonii Petrie
264. Epilobium × winkleri A.Kern.
265. Epilobium × wisconsinense Ugent

The Beauty of Adaptation

One of the things that I find most compelling about Epilobium is its remarkable adaptability. These plants have evolved to thrive in a wide range of habitats, from the harsh conditions of alpine regions to the fertile soils of meadows and forests. This adaptability is evident in the diverse growth forms and reproductive strategies found within the genus. Some species are tall and robust, while others are small and creeping. Some reproduce primarily through seed dispersal, while others rely on vegetative reproduction through rhizomes. This flexibility allows Epilobium to successfully colonize new areas and persist in changing environments.

Epilobium in the Ecosystem

Epilobium plays a vital role in the ecosystems it inhabits. Its flowers provide a valuable source of nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies, while its seeds offer nourishment for birds and small mammals. Furthermore, the ability of some species to quickly colonize disturbed areas helps to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. In this way, Epilobium contributes to the overall health and biodiversity of its environment.

Epilobium and Human Interaction

Throughout history, humans have interacted with Epilobium in various ways. Some species, like fireweed, have been used for medicinal purposes, while others have been cultivated for their ornamental value. The young shoots of certain species are even edible and can be consumed as a vegetable. However, some Epilobium species can also be considered invasive, spreading rapidly and outcompeting native plants. This highlights the importance of understanding the ecological impact of Epilobium and managing its growth in a responsible manner.

Conclusion

My exploration of Epilobium has deepened my appreciation for the intricacies of the plant world. This diverse genus exemplifies the power of adaptation and the vital role that plants play in our ecosystems. Whether I’m observing the vibrant fireweed reclaim a burnt landscape or examining the delicate flowers of the marsh willowherb, I am constantly reminded of the beauty and resilience of nature.

As I continue my journey as a botanist, I look forward to further unraveling the mysteries of Epilobium and contributing to our understanding of this fascinating genus.