small-flowered hairy willowherb

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• small-flowered hairy willowherb
• smaller hairy willowherb
• sparse-flowered willowherb
• Hoary Willowherb
• Small-Flowered Willow-Herb
• small-flower willowherb
• small-flowered willowherb
• smallflower hairy willowherb

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Epilobium numidicum
• Epilobium parviflorum var. intermedium
• Epilobium hirsutum var. intermedium
• Epilobium parviflorum var. menthoides
• Epilobium molle
• Epilobium parviflorum var. verticillatum
• Epilobium parviflorum f. brevifolium
• Epilobium parviflorum var. intermedium
• Epilobium parviflorum subvar. verticillatum
• Epilobium parviflorum f. apricum
• Epilobium parviflorum f. trifoliatum
• Epilobium parviflorum f. umbrosum
• Epilobium parviflorum f. longifolium
• Epilobium adnatum var. villosum
• Chamaenerion parviflorum
• Epilobium parviflorum var. lanuginosum
• Epilobium tauschii
• Epilobium umbrosum
• Epilobium neutrum
• Epilobium parviflorum var. numidicum
• Epilobium parviflorum var. vestitum
• Epilobium pubescens
• Epilobium caballeroi
• Epilobium cordatum
• Epilobium menthoides
• Chamaenerion pubescens
• Epilobium parviflorum var. menezesii
• Epilobium parviflorum var. subglabrum
• Epilobium intermedium
• Epilobium parviflorum var. maritimum
• Epilobium parviflorum var. lusitanicum
• Epilobium parviflorum var. mollissimum
• Epilobium parviflorum f. mollissimum
• Epilobium parviflorum var. parvifolium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Myrtales, and the family Onagraceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Epilobium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Epilobium parviflorum, exhibits a specific geographical range across several Northern European regions. It can be found growing naturally within the country of Denmark. Its presence is also documented throughout the diverse landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is distributed across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its habitat extends northward into the rugged terrain of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Epilobium parviflorum is defined by its preference for saturated environments, specifically thriving within habitats such as canals and swamps. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2500 m AMSL. Across its entire range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1500 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to various topographical gradients while remaining anchored to water-rich ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

canals, swamps

Life history

The life history of Epilobium parviflorum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennuating buds at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface substrate, which aids in its survival during unfavorable conditions. Throughout its existence, the species exhibits an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage to maintain photosynthetic activity across different periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Epilobium parviflorum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures like vines or lianas to maintain its position. Its shoots follow an erect orientation, growing vertically from the ground. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1.4 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.6165 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.4 m

Plant height mean:

0.6165 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Epilobium parviflorum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate medicinal species. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability. Its vegetative morphology is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, with individual leaves displaying an elliptic form. The leaves vary significantly in dimension, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, while the width fluctuates between 0.5 cm and 3.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 2.3 cm. On average, the leaf size is approximately 7.79 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 297.75 cm²/g, reflecting its structural efficiency in resource acquisition and light interception.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.79 cm²

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

297.75 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Epilobium parviflorum is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in September, featuring small pink flowers that measure between 0.6 cm and 0.8 cm in length. These flowers rely on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically attracting insects such as bees. Self-fertilization is present within the species, ensuring reproductive success. Following pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscent capsules as its fruit type. These capsules vary in length, with a mean of 5 cm, a minimum of 3 cm, and a maximum of 7 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds are minute, characterized by a mean length of 1 mm, a mean width of 0.45 mm, and a mean volume of 0.082 mm³. The seed mass is extremely light, averaging approximately 9.2167e-05 g, with a range between 7e-05 g and 1.3e-04 g. Finally, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.6 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

7 cm

Fruit length mean:

5 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00013 g

Seed mass mean:

9.21666666666667e-05 g

Seed mass min:

7e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.082 mm³

Seed width mean:

0.45 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Epilobium parviflorum has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Oenothein B, polyphenols, Condensed Tannins, Flavonoids, Gallic acid.

Oenothein B

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

polyphenols

1. Natural product communications
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Condensed Tannins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Natural product communications

Gallic acid

1. Natural product communications

Hydroxyl radical

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Tannins

1. Natural product communications

aldrin

1. Biological trace element research

dieldrin

1. Biological trace element research

Activities

Epilobium parviflorum has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Epilobium parviflorum has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Malignant melanoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, cancer, prostatic diseases, prostatitis.

Malignant melanoma

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Prostatic diseases

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Prostatitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Skin cancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Epilobium parviflorum has 6 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, EPB loaded chitosan nanoparticles, ethanolic extract, extract, methanolic extract.

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of natural products
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Epb loaded chitosan nanoparticles

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extract

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Methanolic extract

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Water and ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology