red fireweed

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chamerion angustifolium
• Chamaenerion angustifolium
• Pyrogennema angustifolium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Myrtales, specifically within the family Onagraceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed by its classification under the genus Epilobium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the territories of Finland and Iceland. Furthermore, the species inhabits the rugged landscapes of the Faroe Islands, known locally as Føroyaar. Finally, the plant is commonly distributed across the diverse habitats of Great Britain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Epilobium angustifolium is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across a wide range of elevations, spanning from a minimum of 900 m AMSL to a maximum of 4900 m AMSL. This species demonstrates high ecological plasticity, colonizing a vast array of habitats including arctic regions, steppe environments, swamps, and forests. It is frequently found in transitional or disturbed areas such as forest edges, burn clearings, cut-over forests, and roadsides, as well as in human-altered landscapes like crop fields.

Elevational range max:

4900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

arctic, burn clearings, crop fields, cut-over forest, forest, forest edges, roadsides, steppe, swamps

Genetics

The genetics of Epilobium angustifolium are characterized by complex chromosomal configurations and varying levels of polyploidy, which contribute to its wide ecological adaptability. Regarding its fundamental reproductive genetics, the base haploid number is denoted by the ploidy level n, serving as the foundation for the species' diverse genomic structures. Research indicates that this species often exhibits a range of ploidy levels, including diploid, tetraploid, and even higher polyploid states, a phenomenon that facilitates evolutionary divergence and resilience across different habitats. These genetic variations, driven by genome doubling events, influence phenotypic plasticity and the concentration of secondary metabolites, which are critical to its medicinal properties.

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Epirobium angustifolium is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a member of the cryptophyte life form, it utilizes specialized survival strategies to endure unfavorable environmental conditions. The species exhibits a deciduously nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle, and its structural organization is specifically classified as a hemicryptophyte, where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Epilobium angustifolium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it act as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining an independent and terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits a variable stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 1.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.1 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Epilobium angustifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its leaf morphology is defined by an alternate arrangement, featuring elliptic forms that exhibit significant dimensional variability. The leaves range in length from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 19 cm, while their width varies between 0.5 cm and 4 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 38.11 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 226.08 cm²/g, reflecting its structural efficiency in light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

38.11 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

226.08 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Epilobium angustifolium is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in July and extends through September. The plant produces pink flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence, with individual blooms measuring between 1 cm and 1.8 cm in length and 2 cm to 3 cm in width. The pollination process is biotic, primarily driven by insects, with bees serving as a key pollinator. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, it does not exhibit asexual reproduction. Following pollination, the plant develops red fruit in the form of a dehiscence-style capsule. These capsules vary in size, ranging from 4 cm to 8 cm in length and up to 0.4 cm in width. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a length between 1 mm and 1.3 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.000548 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00001 g to a maximum of 0.00113 g). Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

1.8 cm

Flower length min:

1 cm

Flower width max:

3 cm

Flower width min:

2 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

red

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit length min:

4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length max:

1.3 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00113 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000547914285714286 g

Seed mass min:

1e-05 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Epilobium angustifolium has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutical science advances

Flower

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Epilobium angustifolium has 36 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Oenothein B, RUTIN, polyphenols, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research
3. Advances in medical sciences
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oenothein B

1. Natural product research
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytochemistry
5. Advances in medical sciences

RUTIN

1. Natural product research
2. Phytochemistry
3. Advances in medical sciences

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenes

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. Phytochemistry
2. Natural product research

quercetin 3-O-glucuronide

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

(S)-Carvone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Epilobium angustifolium has 7 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Communications biology
2. Farmaco (Societa chimica italiana : 1989)

Antibacterial

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anticancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antifungal

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimycotic

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Epilobium angustifolium has 26 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include skin diseases, Acinetobacter baumannii, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations