Chamaenerion latifolium in flower
A beautiful Arctic species, Chamaenerion latifolium, or broadleaf willowherb, is featured as today’s Botany Photo of the Day. These striking blooms are especially dramatic as they stand out from the usual grey and brown palette often characteristic of tundra regions.
Plants in the group are either known as willowherbs (due to the willow-like shape of the leaves) or fireweeds. Chamaenerion latifolium has the common names of dwarf fireweed or river beauty willowherb. As a circumpolar species, it is found broadly throughout the northern hemisphere in arctic and alpine regions (though, in this instance, not in northern continental Europe).
In Canada’s arctic archipelago, Chamaenerion latifolium is found in the following habitats (based on herbarium specimen labels):
It looks so ornamental, at least in this photo, less so in the photos at the second link. Is it used in gardens?
Perhaps it is true
that science is beauty expressed as prose,
while beauty is science expressed as poetry.
Is this not Chamaenerion latifolium (formerly Epilobium latifolium)?
Yes, I’ve updated the entry to reflect this.
What’s the difference between E. arcticum and E. latifolium?
Updated the entry–Epilobium arcticum is a much smaller plant!
Oh my goodness, that is GORGEOUS! Thank you!
I thought onagra was a wild donkey!
Why are Chamerion angustifolium and Chamerion latifolium in a different genus?
The flowers look identical.
Is that your photo? It’s terrific – I love the perspective, and can’t help but wonder if that interesting rock was placed in front deliberately…
It’s a delight to see this “shrunken” willowherb, being used to the tall versions here in the PNW (E. augustifolium). Makes sense that our local epilobium would grow tall and strain for sun, while this one hugs the ground.
No, Alison was the photographer. Can’t take credit for the photo!
I agree with Doug – the general appearance of the flower and foliage is much more similar to Chamerion latifolium than any Epilobium I am familiar with. I also noticed that Wikipedia is using the genus name Chamaenerion rather than Chamerion and provides a justification for doing so.
Yep, updated!
I saw a similar plant in full bloom many years ago on the Steens Mtn ( SE Oregon). The closest I could come to identifying it was Epilobium obcordatum. It was nestled in a rocky talus slope at the edge of a late spring melting ice mass. Common name mentioned, was Rock Fringe. I found it in Elizabeth Horn’s WILDFLOWERS 3, THE SIERRA NEVADA MTNS., 1976,PP. 113.
It’s Mini-Fireweed!
Whatever its classification, for which I have totally no comment or input, it is beautiful.
What a lovely little plant! I never knew there were any flowers in the evening primrose family other than the yellow and white varieties one sees here in Southern California.