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

Yellow Willowherb, Yellow Willow Herb

Epilobium luteum

Photo above of yellow willow-herb from the Shorthorn Trail, southern slopes of Mt. Adams ...........August 2005.

Photo at right of Yellow Willow-herb from Trail #9, the Shorthorn Cr Trail, Mt. Adams Wilderness........August 2005.

Characteristics:

Yellow Willow-herb is an upright to spreading, bushy wildflower. It may grow from 15 to 70 cm tall. The stems are slender with opposite, almost sessile leaves. The numerous leaves are finely toothed, to 7.5 cm long, and lanceolate to ovate in shape.

The flowers appear singly from the upper leaf axils, and are 4-petaled. The flowers are a creamy light yellow color, and may be as much as 2 cm long. The petals are obcordate in shape, 14 to 18 mm long. The petals overlap so the flower looks partly closed. In addition, the flowers have 4 sepals and 8 stamens.

Habitat:

Yellow Willow-herb is a wildflower of open, moist meadows and streamsides from moderate to high elevation in the Cascades and Olympic Mts.

Range:

Yellow Willow-herb is found from Alaska southward to Vancouver Island, the Olympic Mts, and the Cascades of Oregon and Washington.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found from 3300'-3500' on upper Eagle Creek.

Paul Slichter