[The Evening-primrose Family in Denali National Park and Preserve]
Bloodvine, Blooming Sally, Blooming Willow, Fireweed, Flowering Willow, Great Willow Herb, Narrow-leaved Fireweed, Purple Rocket, Rosebay Willow Herb, Tall Fireweed, Wickup, Wicopy, Wickape
Chamerion angustifolium ssp. circumvagum
Synonyms: Chamaenerion angustifolium, Chamerion angustifolium var. canescens, Chamerion danielsii, Chamerion platyphyllum, Epilobium angustifolium ssp. circumvagum, Epilobium angustifolium ssp. macrophyllum, Epilobium angustifolium var. abbreviatum, Epilobium angustifolium var. canescens, Epilobium angustifolium var. macrophyllum, Epilobium angustifolium var. platyphyllum
Characteristics:
Fireweed is a handsome flowered, simple stemmed weed of disturbed places.
Its rhizomatous roots help this perennial spread. It may attain a height of
3 meters.
The leaves are alternate, narrowly lanceolate, and subsessile, to 15 cm in
length. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme of many flowers. Individual petals
are rose to purple in color, though white individuals may occur. The petals
may be from 8-20 mm long. The species is an important plant for honey producers,
and is useful for reconditioning disturbed soil.
Habitat:
Fireweed is a wildflower of disturbed places, including highway and railroad
embankments, disturbed fields, and clearcuts or old forest fire burns.
Range:
Fireweed is found from Alaska south to California, and eastward to the Atlantic
coast.
The long, linear fruits of fireweed are beginning to spill their plumed seeds at the Denali National Park Visitors Center..................August 22, 2006.
- 
Paul Slichter