[Spikeprimroses and Willowherbs: The Genus Epilobium in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb

Epilobium hirsutum

Flower of Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum

Close-up of the flower of fiddle-grass as seen along the Old Highway about one mile west of the Klickitat River.......July 10, 2009. Note the 4-lobed stigma as well as the notched tips to the broad petals.
Characteristics:

Fiddle-grass is an introduced European weed found in various places west of the Cascades and in the Columbia River Gorge. It is an erect plant, attaining a height of from 80 to 120 cm. The leaves are pubescent and the pink or purple petals are rounded to truncate or retuse in shape. The leaves are pubescent and range from 3-8 cm in length.

The flowers are 4 petalled with the tips bilobed. The petals are mostly pink, and they range in length from 12-20 mm. The stigma is 4-cleft in the shape of a cross as seen in the pictures above and at right.

Habitat:

Fiddle-grass is an introduced species of swampy places.

Range:

Fiddle-grass is found around Bellingham, WA and Bingen, WA.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between 100'-800' from near the Wind River and hence east past Haystack Butte.It may also be found at the high water mark on the Columbia River at the Dalles Riverside Park.

Flower of Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum

The photo above shows a close-up frontal view of the flower of fiddle-grass as seen along the Old Highway about one mile west of the Klickitat River (same location as the older photos on this page)........July 7, 2006.

Developing fruit of Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum - Inferior ovary and sideview of the flower of Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum - Stem leaf of Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum

Close-ups of the seed capsule, flower and leaf of fiddle-grass as seen along the Old Highway about one mile west of the Klickitat River........July 7, 2006. Note the long, slender ovary which is inferior to the flower.Note also the numerous teeth along the margin and numerous spreading hairs on the blade.

Sideviews of the flowers and inferior ovary of Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum - Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum

Close-ups of fiddle-grass as seen along the Old Highway about one mile west of the Klickitat River........July 10, 2009.

Stem leaf of Codlins and Cream, Fiddlegrass, Fiddle Grass, Fiddle Grass Willowherb: Epilobium hirsutum

Close-up of the upper surface of a leaf blade of fiddle-grass as seen along the Old Highway about one mile west of the Klickitat River........July 10, 2009. Note the numerous teeth along the blade margin and numerous spreading hairs on the pedicels and on the underside of the leaf.
Paul Slichter