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Marsh Willowherb
Epilobium palustre
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Marsh Willowherb is a slender wetland plant found widely across the cooler parts of Europe, Asia and North America. It has narrow leaves and small four‑petaled flowers that range from pink to white. The plant often stands alone or with few branches and can reach 10–70 cm tall. You’ll most often notice it in wet, open places.
Did you know?
- Its seeds have silky hairs and drift far on the wind when the long pods split open.
- It makes thin surface runners with tiny buds at their tips, helping it spread in wet ground.
About the species
Identification
Perennial, 10–70 cm tall, mostly unbranched. Stem smooth at the base, hairy above; thin thread‑like runners with tiny buds at the base. Leaves narrow, mostly without stalk, tapering at the base; edges usually smooth and often rolled under; on the lower stem leaves grow in facing pairs, higher up they are single. Flowers small (about 5–8 mm), four‑petaled, pink to white, in a loose, sparse cluster. Fruit a very long, thin capsule (4–8 cm) that splits to release many tiny, silky‑haired seeds. Look for the very narrow leaves and long pods. Flowers in Finland in July–August.
Plant group
Herbaceous plants
Habitat
shore
Flowering
Jul–Aug
About the habitat
Grows in wet places such as ditches, lake and stream edges, wet meadows, springs, fens and swampy woods; also along roadsides and vacant ground. In mountains it reaches up to just below the treeless zone. Common throughout the country, reaching up to the lower fell zone.
Sources
Photo: Mark Breaks, CC BY 4.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6452030553
Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki versot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39105
Text: Pinkka: Laaja maatalouslajintuntemus 4 op - Koppisiemeniset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39105
Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suohorsma
