[Willowherbs and Spike-primroses: The Genus Epilobium East of the
Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]
Chaparral Willowherb, Small-flowered Willowherb
Epilobium minutum
Synonym: Epilobium minutum var. minutum
Small-flowered willowherb as seen amongst talus along Canyon Creek in the Klickitat State Wildlife Area of south-central Washington..........April 23, 2009.
Characteristics:
Small-flowered willowherb is a small, freely branched annual
wildflower. Its leaves are primarily opposite. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate
in shape and short petioled, with a length from 10 to 25 mm. The flowers are
found in the axils of the terminal, alternate leaves. The four petals are white
to pink, 2 to 4 mm long. Individual petals are bilobed at the tip.
Habitat:
Small-flowered willowherb is found in gravelly or dry soils,
from sea level to well up in the mountains.
Range:
Small-flowered willowherb is found from British Columbia south
to California, and eastward to Montana.
Small-flowered willowherb as seen on serpentine outcrops along the Canyon Mountain Trail #218, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness........June 21, 2011.
Small-flowered willowherb as seen on serpentine outcrops along the Canyon Mountain Trail #218, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness........May 29, 2014.
Close-up of the stem leaves of small-flowered willowherb as seen amongst talus along Canyon Creek in the Klickitat State Wildlife Area of south-central Washington........April 23, 2009.
Small-flowered willowherb as seen at a small borrow pit along Forest Service Road 35 about one-half mile uphill from the southern forest boundary, Table Mountain, Wenatchee National Forest...........June 4, 2013.
Epilobium minutum from the road
to Blue Sky, Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge.........June 97.
Paul Slichter