Willow-Herb Family:-

"The Willow-Herbs are a difficult genus and hybidise readily, so that the plants will often be found combining the characters of two of the following species. All are more or less hairy perennials, often with reddish stems, spreading by short offshoots from the base of the main stem, except the New Zealand Willow-Herbs, which spread by runners. All, with the same exception, are branched, with mostly toothed lanceolate leaves, the lower opposite, the upper usually alternate;and loose terminal clusters of pinkish flowers with 4 more or less deeply notched petals, 8 stamens and the stigma either club-shaped, or divided into 4 lobes, or in some hybrids intermediate. All have long narrow 4-sided seed-pods that split when ripe to show the plumes of long silky hairs attached to the tiny seeds. The quality and not the quantity of the hairs on the stems, flowers and pods, i.e. whether they are spreading, curled or appressed, is important. The flower is above the ovary." from Collins Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers by David McClintock and R.S.R. Fitter assisted by Francis Rose - ISBN 0 00 219363 9 - Eleventh Impression 1978.

Willow-Herb Family plant table with its Common Name - Botanical Name. Flowering Months Range. Habitat with link to that Water Fern to Yew Wild Flower Families Gallery:-

Common Name

Botanical Name

Flowering Months

Habitat

Alpine Enchanter's Nightshade

Circaea alpina

July-August

A perennial herb typically associated with seepage areas within rocky, bryophyte-rich Quercus woodland, but also found amongst boulders and scree by the sides of streams and waterfalls, under Pteridium, and even amongst Sphagnum. It probably spreads by rhizomes and stolons, as well as by seed. Generally lowland, but reaching 755 m on Knock Fell (Westmorland). Often confused with and hard to tell from the Upland Enchanter's Nightshade.

Alpine Willow-Herb

(Pimpernel Willowherb)

Epilobium anagallidifolium

June-August

A very shortly stoloniferous perennial herb, growing in mossy mountain flushes, on steep wet slopes and by streams; sometimes washed down and persisting for a while by streams and rivers at lower altitudes. It grows from 155 m near Inchnadamph (W. Sutherland) to 1190 m on Ben Lawers (Mid Perth), but usually in the upper part of that range.

Flower from Beinn Eighe on 29 June

Flowers from Beinn Eighe on 29 June

Foliage from Beinn Eighe on 29 June

Form from Beinn Eighe on 29 June

Form from Beinn Eighe on 29 June

Ripe Seed-pod from Beinn Eighe in Ross on 29 June

American Willow-Herb

Epilobium adenocaulon

(Epilobium ciliatum)

June-August

A perennial herb found on disturbed ground such as in gardens, shrubberies, felled woodland, waste ground, on walls and in pavement cracks. It spreads readily by seed, often colonising newly disturbed sites. It occasionally grows in semi-natural habitats, including marshes.

Foliage in July

Flower in July

Flowers in July

Foliage in July

Flower in July

Flower Buds in July

Form in July

Broad-leaved Willow-Herb

Epilobium montanum

June onwards

A perennial herb growing in woods, hedge banks, gardens and waste ground, and sometimes on rock ledges or gullies, often in shade. It spreads by wind-borne seed.

Flower Bud in August

Juvenile Seed-pod in August

Flower in August

Foliage in August

Form in September

Maturing Seed-pod in August

Ripe Seed-Pod in August

Flower Buds in August

Chickweed Willow-Herb

(Water Plantain Willowherb)

Epilobium alsinifolium

July-August

A montane perennial herb, spreading by stolons and occurring in or by mountain springs or streams, or on irrigated mountain ledges, often in moss carpets; sometimes temporarily established by streams at lower altitudes. It occurs on acidic and basic substrates, and tolerates eutrophic conditions. From 120 m on Eigg (N. Ebudes) to 1140 m on Bidean nam Bian (Main Argyll).

Common Enchanter's Nightshade

(Broad-leaf Enchanter's-nightshade)

Circaea lutetiana

June-August

A perennial herb found in moist, usually base-rich, shaded habitats, including both ancient and secondary woodland, hedgerows, scrub, stream and river banks, and as a weed of cultivation. Its spread is aided by its long, brittle but very persistent rhizomes. Generally lowland, but reaching 465 m at Highfolds Scar (Mid-W. Yorks.).

Flower from Chiltern Hills in August

Flower from Chiltern Hills in August

Fruits from Chiltern Hills

Foliage

Form

Flowers from Chiltern Hills in August

Fruit from Chiltern Hills

Foliage in August

Form from Isle of Wight. Photo from BritishFlora

Foliage from Isle of Wight. Photo from BritishFlora

Fragrant Evening Primrose

(Chilean Evening Primrose)

Oenothera stricta

June onwards

Sand (in sandy places, especially in South-West England)

Form from Dawlish Warren in Devon in June

Flower in September

Flower from Oxwich Burrows on 11 July

Flower Bud in September

Flowers from Oxwich Burrows on 11 July

Foliage from Dawlish Warren in June

Fuchsia

Fuchsia magellanica

June onwards

Hedges (much used for hedging in the West of Ireland and well naturalised there, less so in South-Western England; on moors in Orkney)

Form in June

Flowers from West Kerry in June

Hedge at Bollinskelligs in County Kerry on 22 June

Flower from West Kerry in June

Great Willow-Herb

(Great Hairy Willowherb)

Epilobium hirsutum

July-September

A tall perennial herb of open habitats, including ditches, marshes, the edges of streams or ponds, damp woodland margins and waste ground. It thrives in wet, fertile, neutral to basic habitats, although it can tolerate dry ground. It spreads from seed, or from branching rhizomes which may result in dense stands. 0-365 m (Derbys.), with an exceptional record at 845 m on Great Dun Fell (Westmorland).

Flower in August

Flowers from Higham in Kent on 10 August

Flower Buds in August

Flower in August

Flower in August

Flowers in August

Form in August

Flowers from Burham

Foliage in August

Foliage in August

Flowers from Berkshire. Photo from BritishFlora

Foliage from Berkshire. Photo from BritishFlora

Flowers from Berkshire. Photo from BritishFlora

Hampshire Purslane

(Marsh Primrose-willow)

Ludwigia palustris

June-July

Woodland (in wet ground, now only in the New Forest)

Hoary Willow-Herb

(Small-flowered Hairy Willowherb)

Epilobium parviflorum

July-September

A perennial herb, most frequent in marshes, fens, streamsides and other disturbed wet places, spreading by air-borne seed. However, the species will also grow in dry habitats, including quarries, banks and waste ground and as a street weed. Generally lowland, reaching 365 m in Derbyshire.

Flowers in September

Flower in September

Foliage in September

Form in September

Large Evening Primrose

Oenothera erythrosepala

(Oenothera glazioviana)

June onwards

Wasteland and Dunes (in waste places and on dunes)

Flower at Shorne in July

Flowers at Shorne in July

Foliage at Shorne in July

Form at Shorne in July

Flowers

Flower on 24 August

Flower on 24 August

Form in September

Least Evening Primrose

(Northern Evening Primrose)

Oenothera parviflora

June onwards

Wasteland and Dunes ( Frequent in waste places and on dunes)

Lesser Evening Primrose

(Common Evening Primrose)

Oenothera biennis

June onwards

Wasteland and Dunes (not common in waste places and on dunes)

Flower in July

Flower from Eccles on 15 July

Flower in July

Foliage in August

Spent Flowers and stumps where the dead flowers have fallen off

Foliage from Eccles on 15 July

Form in August

Marsh Willow-Herb

Epilobium palustre

June-August

A stoloniferous perennial herb of wet acidic sites, occurring in bogs, marshes, flushes and ditches, and on stream or lake margins. It spreads by wind-borne seed and by turions which form at the ends of the stolons and can be carried off by winter floods. 0-795 m (Foel Fras, Caerns.) and 845 m on Great Dun Fell (Westmorland).

Flowers from Swansea Airport on 12 July

Flower from Swansea Airport on 12 July

Foliage from Kilnlocheew on 23 June

Foliage from Swansea Airport on 12 July

Form from Kinlochewe on 23 June

New Zealand Willow-Herb

(Rockery Willowherb)

Epilobium pedunculare var. brunnescens

(Epilobium brunnescens)

June-July

Locally established in England, Scotland, and Ireland as an escape from rock-gardens on moist and not-so-moist walls, banks and stony or gravelly ground.

Flower from County Clare on 20 June

Form

Pale Willow-Herb

Epilobium roseum

July-September

A perennial herb of damp disturbed places, found near streams and canals, in woods, on shaded banks, and in street gutters and gardens. Generally lowland, but reaching 560 m on Wold Fell (Mid-W. Yorks.).

Flower

Foliage in September

Flower in September

Flowers in September

Foliage

Form in September

Rose-Bay

Chamaenerion angustifolium

(Epilobium angustifolium)

June-September

Wasteland, Heaths, Woodland and Mountains (on waste ground, railway banks, heaths, clearings in woods and on mountains)

Flowers from Berkshire. Photo by BritishFlora.

Form from Stone Street in Kent on 14 July

Foliage in July

Juvenile Seed-pods above ripe Seed-pods from Hatfield on 30 August

Flower from Cobham in Kent on 12 July

Form

Ripe Seed-pods from Hatfield in Kent in September

Short-fruited Willow-Herb

Epilobium obscurum

July-August

A perennial herb found on cultivated or waste ground, marshes, streamsides and woodland margins. It thrives in damp habitats, but tolerates dry ground, and spreads by wind-borne seed and long stolons. 0-775 m (Mangerton Mountain, S. Kerry) and 845 m on Great Dun Fell (Westmorland).

Flower in August

Foliage in August

Flowers at Kidwelly on 13 July

Ripe Seed-pods in September

Form in August

Foliage from Jesvaex Abbey in June

Form at Jesvauex Abbey in June

Southern Willow-Herb

Epilobium lamyi

(Epilobium tetragonum ssp. lamyi)

July-August

Woodlands ( in woods and damp places in Southern England)

Spear-leaved Willow-Herb

Epilobium lanceolatum

July onwards

A perennial herb which grows in various dry habitats in S.W. England, including roadsides, walls, banks, quarries, streets and dunes. Elsewhere, it is more frequently a garden weed. 0-400 m (Dartmoor, S. Devon).

Square-stemmed Willow-Herb

Epilobium adnatum

(Epilobium tetragonium)

July-August

A perennial herb occurring in damp or dry habitats including cultivated or waste ground, gardens, quarries, streamsides and woodland margins. It spreads by seed. Lowland.

Flower in September

Flowers in July

Foliage from Rochester in Kent

Foliage from Rochester

Upland Enchanter's Nightshade

(Intermediate Enchanter's Nightshade)

Circaea intermedia

(Circaea alpina x lutetiana)

July-August

A perennial herb occurring in moist wooded or shaded habitats, by streams and amongst wet rocks; also sometimes in gardens and on disturbed roadsides. It spreads by rhizomes, stolons and occasionally by seed, even though it is usually sterile. It can persist in the absence of one or both parents. Generally lowland, but reaching 560 m at Allt Creagach, Coignafearn (Easterness).

Flower from Oldbury in Kent on 5 August

Flowers and Buds from Oldbury on 5 August