Epilobium hornemannii, July 11, 2023
Gone to seed, upper Lost Man Trail, 11,600’, August 7, 2023
Common & scientific name
Hornemann’s willowherb, Epilobium hornemannii
Family
Evening primrose, Onagraceae
Location
Upper Lost Man Trail, 11,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Willowherbs are notoriously difficult to identify, as they often interbreed, are individually variable, and just plain look alike. The only way one can be certain that this plant is indeed this species is by uprooting it and checking for turions, little fleshy bulbs attached to the base of the stem. Hornemann’s doesn’t have them. I have only done this once (sacrificed willowherbs for ID purposes), and won’t again. Narrowing it down to “willowherb” is close enough!