Rosebay Willowherb
Rosebay Willowherb en masse
Rosebay Willowherb flowering spikes
Petals, sepals, stigma, stamens
Young anthers and immature stigma
Willow-like leaves
Opened and unopened pods
Mass of white plumed seeds
Chamerion angustifolium
Onagraceae
Epilobium angustifolium, Rosebay, Fireweed, Bombweed
June to September
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Rosebay Willowherb
In the early 1800s it was a scarce upland plant, but it then
started to spread rapidly onto cleared and burnt ground,
disturbed ground and eventually alongside tracks, roads,
railways and on waste ground.
It proved well adapted to colonising bomb sites in WW2
- hence the name, Bombweed.
Rosebay Willowherb is a conspicuous, native, rhizomatous,
perennial, herb growing up to 1.5m.
Where there is no competition, it forms dense stands.
Flowers are pink-purple in tall spikes.
They are up to 3cm with dark, purple sepals.
The anthers form first (protandrous) and are followed by
the conspicuous 4-part stigma.
The fruit is a long, pink-purple capsule that splits to
release seeds with white feathery plumes.
Seeds travel large distances in the wind and manage
to germinate in inaccessible places such as in cracks
in chimney masonry.
Leaves are willow-like, greyish and lanceolate with a
strong mid-rib.
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Rosebay Willowherb en masse
Rosebay Willowherb flowering spikes
Petals, sepals, stigma, stamens
Young anthers and immature stigma
Willow-like leaves
Opened and unopened pods
Mass of white plumed seeds
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