Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_8496.JPG-08-06-2021
Flower name (scientific): Epilobium coloratum Biehler PY: 1807. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ep-ih-LOW-bee-um kol-or-AH-tum
Flower name (common): Purple-Leaved Willow Herb
Family name (common): Evening Primrose
Family name (scientific): Onagraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek for upon a pod. Referring to the corolla positioned on the top of the ovary.
    Specific epithet: Latin for colored.
Common name origin: The leaves sometimes have purple spots. Willow herb refers to species in the genus Epilobium, and originally was used because the leaves resemble the willow's leaves.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm)
     Petal count: 4
     Color: pink
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description:
     Size: 24 to 36 inches (61 to 91 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate and/or opposite, type is simple
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): July to October
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Streambanks, bogs, marshes, swamps, moist woodlands or prairies, sun or semi shade, wet.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Epilobium coloratum and Epilobium ciliatum (Fringed Willowherb) are very similar, and both are widely distributed in Wisconsin. The simplest way to separate these two species is the color of the tufts of hair on the seeds: E. coloratum has reddish-brown hair, whereas E. ciliatum has white hairs. When seeds are not available, examine the leaves. E. coloratum has serrated leaves with about 4 to 8 teeth per centimeter and mid-stem leaves that are usually short stalked, whereas E. ciliatum usually has fewer teeth per centimeter and the teeth are small, and mid-stem leaves that are usually stakless or nearly so. Other Epilobium species have leaves that are entire (not toothed).
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.807653
Longitude: -91.515632
Altitude: 243.20
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (NB, NF, NS, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): OBL
Wetland Status (MW): OBL