Willowherb Family [Onagraceae] |
Flowers: |
Pappus: (white, long, simple, within a 4-sided pod) |
status
flower
inner
morph
petals
stem
sex
11th Aug 2018, L&L canal, Maghull, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
An upright plant with branches. Flowers in singles or very small groups. |
11th Aug 2018, L&L canal, Maghull, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
This specimen has perhaps been cut down by CRT's towpath strimmers. It is right on the waters edge, but a very low plant, considering it grows up to 1.8m high and is flowering. |
11th Aug 2018, L&L canal, Maghull, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves in opposite pairs which weakly clasp the stem. Both leaves and stems have simple and/or glandular hairs which stick out. Although the stem is not square (as it is for Square-stalked Willowherb) the leaves pairs are alternately at 90° to each other. It is a hairy plant. |
11th Aug 2018, L&L canal, Maghull, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers are between 15 and 23mm across with four large pink recurved petals each with a notch in the centre. A long brown hairy seed-pod between 5 to 8cm long stands ready to peel open from the top like a banana, but with only four sides, in order to reveal all the parachuted seeds inside which are in 4 long rows. |
11th Aug 2018, L&L canal, Maghull, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
Nominally 4 pale pink anthers which are open and have shed their white pollen. A taller 4-pronged stigma. |
7th Aug 2008, Compstall Navigation, Etherow Valley, Gtr Mcr. | Photo: © RWD |
A large raft of Great Willowherb hogging the canal bank at waters edge. It is a good thing that there are no canal boats on this canal, for getting on or off here could prove problematic. Note the extremely tall specimen on the right! |
30th July 2007, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
Contrasted well by the black waters of the canal here in the shade. |
11th July 2005, Cumbria Coastal Way, near Cark. | Photo: © RWD |
Never far from water, this specimen is by a ditch. |
27th July 2007, Hall Road, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
14th Aug 2004, between Wilpshire and Sabden, witch country. | Photo: © RWD |
The long, square in cross-section, flower stalks which become the long seed pods when the flower drops off the top. |
1st Aug 2008, near Croston, Preston. | Photo: © RWD |
4 petals, 4 sepals. As yet un-opened flowers bottom right. |
11th July 2007, Gathurst, near Wigan. | Photo: © RWD |
The leaves have shallow teeth. |
1st Aug 2008, near Croston, Preston. | Photo: © RWD |
Normal mauve type Great Willowherb is here growing with unusual all pink and all white forms. |
1st Aug 2008, near Croston, Preston. | Photo: © RWD |
Pink form. |
1st Aug 2008, near Croston, Preston. | Photo: © RWD |
White and pink forms together. |
1st Aug 2008, near Croston, Preston. | Photo: © RWD |
Pink and white forms growing on same plant, side by side! |
1st Aug 2008, near Croston, Preston. | Photo: © RWD |
Totally white-form plant. |
1st Aug 2008, near Croston, Preston. | Photo: © RWD |
White form. |
Photo: © Ann Collier |
An anomalous specimen with five-star rather than 4-star style. |
It is no doubt not inconceivable that some of these white and pink forms are some of the very many hybrids of willowherbs detailed, but your author will leave those identifications to experts. Hybridizes with other Willowherbs, namely:
Distinguishing Feature : At up to 1.8m high it is by a good way the tallest Willowherb. Hoary Willowherb looks similar to Great Willowherb but is, at up to 75cm high, less than half the height.
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Epilobium | hirsutum | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Onagraceae |
Epilobium (Willowherbs) |
Willowherb Family [Onagraceae] |