Epilobium hornemannii, July 30, 2020
Common & scientific name
Hornemann’s and Rocky Mountain willowherb, Epilobium hornemannii & saximontanum
Family
Evening primrose, Onagraceae
Location
Linkins Lake Trail, 11,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Willowherbs are notoriously difficult to identify, as they often interbreed, are individually variable, and just plain look alike. The only way I could be certain that the two plants in this post were distinct was by uprooting them and checking for turions, little fleshy bulbs attached to the base of the stem. Rocky Mountain willowherb has them, Hornemann’s doesn’t. I have only done this once (sacrificed these willowherbs for ID purposes), and won’t again. Narrowing it down to “willowherb” is close enough!
E. saximontanum, July 30, 2020