Marsh willowherb (Epilobium palustre, Sp. Pl.: 348 (1753))

Family: Onagraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 348 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Epilobium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Northern Hemisphere

Description

Marsh willowherb, scientifically known as Epilobium palustre, is a fascinating and resilient plant species that thrives in a variety of wetland habitats. First described in 1753, this plant belongs to the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, often referred to by his abbreviation, L. It is a member of the Onagraceae family, which includes a range of flowering plants widely recognized for their ecological importance and distinctive features.

Epilobium palustre is naturally distributed across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, displaying a remarkable adaptability to various moist environments. Typically found in marshes, wetlands, and along the edges of ponds and streams, this plant prefers habitats that provide consistent moisture, making it a crucial component of these ecosystems.

The marsh willowherb exhibits a modest yet charming appearance, with slender, erect stems that can grow up to 60 centimeters tall. The leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, usually arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. During its blooming season, which generally spans from June to August, it produces small, delicate flowers. These blossoms feature four pink petals, each with a notched tip, and are particularly attractive to a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

In addition to its ecological role, Epilobium palustre carries a historical significance in botanical studies and nomenclature. Its identification and classification by Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” brought greater attention to this species and contributed to the understanding of plant diversity within wetland ecosystems.

Furthermore, the marsh willowherb has also been examined for its potential medicinal uses, as various members of the Onagraceae family have been traditionally used in herbal remedies. However, it is primarily valued for its role in maintaining the health and stability of wetland habitats.

In conclusion, marsh willowherb, or Epilobium palustre, is a noteworthy species that exemplifies the intricate relationships within wetland ecosystems. Its widespread presence in the temperate Northern Hemisphere underscores its adaptability and ecological importance. Through its modest beauty and significant role in pollination, it continues to capture the interest of botanists and nature enthusiasts alike.

Common Names

Spa: adelfilla palustre
Dan: kær-dueurt
Eng: marsh willowherb, marsh willow-herb, swamp willowherb
Deu: sumpf-weidenröschen, sumpfweidenröschen
Fra: epilobe des marais, épilobe palustre, épilobe des marais
Swe: kärrdunört, suohorsma
Nld: moerasbasterdwederik
Nor: myr-mielte, myr-miolke
Nob: myrmjølke
Nno: myrmjølke
Fin: suohorsma
Sme: jeaggehorbmá
Kor: beo-deul-ba-neul-kkot
Cym: helyglys culddail, helyglys culddail y fawnog, helyglys y fawnog, helyglys y gors
En: Marsh willowherb, Marsh willowweed, Marsh Willow-herb, Swamp willowherb
Az: Bataqlıq yağıotu
Be: Скрыпень балотны
Bg: Блатна върбовка
Ca: Epilobi palustre
Zh: 沼生柳叶菜
Cs: Vrbovka bahenní
Da: Kær-dueurt
Nl: Beetroosje, Moerasbasterdwederik
Et: Soo-pajulill
Fi: Suohorsma
Fr: Epilobe des marais, Épilobe palustre, Épilobe des marais
De: Sumpf-Weidenröschen, Sumpfweidenröschen
Hu: Mocsári füzike
It: Epilobio palustre, Garofanino turgoncello
Ko: Beo-deul-ba-neul-kkot
Se: Jeaggehorbmá
No: Myrmjølke, Myr-mielte, Myr-miolke
Nb: Myrmjølke
Nn: Myrmjølke
Fa: بید علفی مردابی
Pl: Wierzbownica błotna
Es: Adelfilla palustre, Močvirski vrbovec
Sv: Kärrdunört, Suohorsma
Uk: Зніт болотний
Cy: Helyglys Culddail, Helyglys Culddail y Fawnog, Helyglys y Fawnog, Helyglys y Gors

Synonyms

• Epilobium palustre var. virgatum (Hartm.)
• Epilobium palustre var. adenophorum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium palustre var. albescens (Wahlenb.)
• Epilobium lineare f. pennsylvanicum (Hausskn.)
• Chamaenerion palustre ((L.) Schreb.)
• Epilobium nesophilum var. lupulinum (Hodgdon & R.B.Pike)
• Epilobium palustre f. longigemmis (Murb.)
• Epilobium ligulatum (Baker)
• Epilobium palustre var. majus (Benth. ex C.B.Clarke)
• Epilobium lineare (Muhl.)
• Epilobium palustre var. hypposifolium (Rchb.)
• Epilobium simplex (Tratt.)
• Epilobium alpinum (L.)
• Epilobium palustre f. lineare (Regel)
• Epilobium palustre var. monticola (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium vogesiacum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium palustre var. confertum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium palustre var. labradoricum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium ramiflorum (Hegetschw.)
• Epilobium palustre var. schmidtianum (Regel)
• Epilobium scaturiginum (Wimm. ex Uechtr.)
• Epilobium kerneri (Borbás)
• Epilobium oliganthum var. albescens ((Richardson) Farw.)
• Epilobium alpinum var. minus (Hartm.)
• Epilobium molle var. sabulonense (Fernald)
• Epilobium lineare f. angustissimum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium palustre var. minus (Wimm. & Grab.)
• Epilobium palustre var. simplex ((Tratt.) Mert. & W.D.J.Koch)
• Epilobium sudeticum (Beurl.)
• Epilobium lineare var. oliganthum ((Michx.) Trel.)
• Epilobium tomentosum (Gilib.)
• Epilobium empetrifolium (Kunze ex Hausskn.)
• Epilobium fischerianum ((Hausskn.) Pavlov)
• Epilobium tundrarum (Sam.)
• Epilobium palustre var. minimum (Benth. ex C.B.Clarke)
• Epilobium palustre var. lineare ((Muhl.) A.Gray)
• Epilobium palustre var. altaicum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium pusillum (Gillies ex Hook.)
• Epilobium palustre var. oliganthum ((Michx.) Fernald)
• Epilobium palustre var. alpinum (Lapeyr.)
• Epilobium palustre var. fischerianum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium wyomingense (A.Nelson)
• Epilobium palustre var. lavandulifolium (Lecoq & Lamotte.)
• Epilobium palustre var. brevipes (Hartm.)
• Epilobium nesophilum var. sabulonense ((Fernald) Fernald)
• Epilobium rhynchocarpum (Boiss.)
• Epilobium oliganthum (Michx.)
• Epilobium palustre subsp. slendzinskii (Tacik)
• Epilobium palustre var. nanum (Lecoq & Lamotte.)
• Epilobium lineare f. simplex (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium alsineifolium (Wirtg. ex Hausskn.)
• Epilobium palustre var. clavatotrichon (Rohlena)
• Epilobium pumilum (Steud.)
• Epilobium palustre var. fontanum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium palustre var. alpicola (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium pylaieanum (Fernald)
• Epilobium alpinum var. gavei (H.Lév.)
• Epilobium palustre var. angustifolium (Willk. ex Debeaux)
• Epilobium palustre var. linearifolium (Regel)
• Epilobium clavatotrichon ((Rohlena) A.W.Hill)
• Epilobium lineare f. latifolium (E.L.Rand & Redfield)
• Epilobium alpinum var. majus (Hartm.)
• Epilobium palustre var. grammadophyllum (Hausskn.)
• Epilobium palustre var. lapponicum (Wahlenb.)
• Epilobium palustre var. albiflorum (Lehm.)
• Chamaenerion americanum (Sweet)
• Epilobium palustre var. virescens (Regel)
• Epilobium palustre var. sabulonense ((Fernald) B.Boivin)
• Epilobium palustre var. typicum (C.B.Clarke)
• Epilobium palustre var. longirameum (Fernald & Wiegand)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Albania (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Greenland (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iceland (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Nunavut (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Poland (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Utah (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vermont (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Yukon (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Jul 3, 2022 by Sänger Daniel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2021 by Camilla Lankina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jul 18, 1995 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 25, 2021 by Heinz Brandt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 27, 2022 by David Pinney (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 9, 2020 by Ugoline Jacquot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2020 by Bjent (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2015 by Tela Botanica − David MERCIER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 18, 2022 by Nicolas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 18, 1995 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 31, 1872 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 5, 2021 by César Gonzalez (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 22, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:612155-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3189080)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Epilobium palustre L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 5.0

Ph minimum: 4.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Bloom months: [‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 3