Onagraceae . . . . . Willowherbs
White flowers - choose nearest:
Pink/red flowers - choose nearest:
Yellow - Choose from the Oenothera spp.:
Oenothera glazioviana
Oenothera x fallax
Oenothera stricta
Oenothera biennis
Large-fl. Evening-primrose
Intermediate Evening-primrose
Fragrant Evening-primrose
Common Evening-primrose
Hybrids widespread and difficult to separate spp. but note reddish tinge on withering O. stricta, red bases to hairs in O. glazioviana, while sepals tend to be green in O. cambrica
Chamaenerion (=Chamerion) . . . . Rosebay Willowherb
Chamaenerion angustifolium . . . . Rosebay Willowherb
Common, esp. on waste land
Circaea . . . . Enchanter's Nightshade
Circaea lutetiana . . . .Enchanter's Nightshade
A widely distributed woodland plant of deep shade
Also C. alpina a rare mountain plant of SW Sc, Lake District and Welsh mts, which has fls in dense head and glabrous receptacle/sepals. C. x intermedia is more widespread in N and W Br, with petioles only hairy on upperside, stoloniferous fr4om lower lvs
Epilobium . . . . Willowherbs
Choose from the following spp.:
Mountain plants
Stigma 'cross-shaped'
Stigma 'club-shaped'
Many hybrids also occur
Epilobium alsinifolium . . . . Chickweed Willowherb
Locally frequent by mountain streams in N of Br; slightly toothed leaves; runners below the soil surface and yellow scale leaves
Epilobium anagallidifolium . . . . Alpine Willowherb
Locally frequent by mountain streams in N of Br; lvs +/- entire; seeds with appendage; runners on surface with green leaves
Locally frequent by streams in N of Br
Epilobium brunnescens . . . . New-Zealand Willowherb
Particularly common in mountains but spreading in lowland areas though not in S and E En; fruits (apparently the flower stalks) very elongated
E. komarovianum (Bronzy willowherb) is similar with lvs smaller and green on underside
Other willowherbs:
Epilobium ciliatum . . . . American Willowherb
Fairly tall (up to 1 m), has bulb-shaped stigma; glandular upright hairs on stem (see also E. roseum), but lvs hairless with translucent dots; petioles <4mm; seeds with small knob; stem round or 4 raised lines on stem
Epilobium hirsutum . . . . Great Willowherb or Codlins-and-cream
Cross-shaped stigma; stem lvs clasping stem, densely patent glandular-hairy; seeds without appendagea large plant common by ponds and damp areas;
Epilobium lanceolatum . . . . Spear-leaved Willowherb
Cross-shaped stigma; lvs with adpressed hairs above, denticulate with stomata both sides; 3-8 mm petiole; stems round non-glandular; locally frequent in S Br and CI
Epilobium montanum . . . . Broad-leaved Willowherb
Cross-shaped stigma; stems often pinkish, often glandular-hairy above; lvs with rounded base and 1-6 mm petiole; seeds without appendage; Common
Epilobium obscurum . . . . Short-fruited Willowherb
Bulb-shaped stigma; seeds without knob; sessile lvs decurrent to raised lines; shoot tips and capsules (4-6 cm with glandular hairs) densely appressed-hairy but hairless below
Epilobium palustre . . . . Marsh Willowherb
Bulb-shaped stigma; narrow obtuse hairless nearly sessile leaves sl. decurrent; stems often glandular-hairy above; seeds with appendage; common in wet places
Epilobium parviflorum . . . . Hoary Willowherb
Cross-shaped stigma though often looking bulb-shaped; stem lvs sessile but not clasping, densely patent-hairy, greyish; seeds truncate; locally frequent in S Br and CI
Epilobium roseum . . . . Pale Willowherb
Bulb-shaped stigma with many patent glandular hairs near stem tips, ovate toothed lvs with crisped hairs only on veins, no translucent dots; stomata both sides; petioles 4-15 mm,; stems with 2 strong and 2 weak lines; pale fls; seeds truncate; scattered, esp. in C Br
Epilobium tetragonum . . . . Square-stalked Willowherb
Bulb-shaped stigma, but has sessile parallel-sided leaves decurrent down 2 of 4-ridges on stem (angles with crisped hairs); shoot tips and capsules (4-6 cm) densely appressed-hairy; seeds without appendage; widespread in S and CI becoming rarer in SC and NI
Note that there are a few other spp. and many hybrids
Fuchsia . . . . Fuchsia
Several cultivars established, especially in W coastal areas
Fuchsia magellanica . . . . Fuchsia
Ludwigia . . . . Hampshire-purslanes
Water plants
Ludwigia palustris . . . . Hampshire-purslane
Native and extremely local to the New Forest and Dorset, though can be frequent where it occurs
Two other introduced species occur as rather scattered throw-outs in En
Oenothera . . . . Evening-primroses
Hybrids widespread and difficult to separate spp. but note reddish tinge on withering O. stricta, red bases to hairs in O. glazioviana, while sepals tend to be green in O. biennis. Small flowered plants in S and C En & Wa and CI with red-based hairs on stems may be separated as O. cambrica.
Oenothera biennis . . . . Common Evening-primrose
As far N as C Sc; petals 1.5-3cm, hairs without red bulbous bases, stigma at same level as anthers, sepals and stem green
Oenothera glazioviana . . . . Large-flowered Evening-primrose
Top of stem reddened with red bulbous-based hairs, sepals red striped, petals 35-50 mm long, stigmas above anthers
Oenothera stricta . . . . Fragrant Evening-primrose
Narrow, wavy-edged leaves, no red bulbous-based hairs, capsule widest at apex, sepals red-striped, flowers turning red-orange; sandy places CI and S Br
Oenothera x fallax . . . . Intermediate Evening-primrose
Hairs with red bulbous bases, sepals red-striped, flower stem reddish to tip, capsules all with glandular hairs
