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Epilobium (From epi upon and lobos a pod)

(from epi, upon, and lobos, a pod; flower seated as if it were upon the top of the pod). Willow-herb. ORD. Onagrarieae. A genus of fifty species of hardy perennial herbs or sub-shrubs, occurring in all cold and temperate climates. Most of the species are of botanical interest only, but some are highly ornamental. Flowers axillary, solitary, or disposed in terminal spikes, each flower furnished with a bract. Leaves opposite, or irregularly scattered. They are of the easiest possible culture, in ordinary garden soil. Increased by divisions or seeds. As border plants, and for naturalisation in shrubberies and by watercourses, E. angustifolium and E. hirsutum are eminently well suited.

E. angustifolium (narrow-leaved).* French Willow, or Rose-bay. fl. crimson, disposed in spicate racemes, bracteate. July. l. nearly sessile, lanceolate, undulated. Stems erect, nearly simple. h. 3ft. to 6ft. Northern hemisphere (Britain). A very handsome species, but, from the rapidity with which it spreads, it should be wholly confined to shrubberies. (Sy. En. B. iii. 495.) E. angustissimum (Very narrow-leaved). A synonym of E. rosmarinifolium. E. denticulatum (denticulate). fl. rose-coloured. Summer. l. somewhat lanceolate, denticulated; lower ones opposite. Stems suffruticose. h. 6in. to 12in. Peru.

E. Dodonaei (Dodoens').* fl. deep rose, large; pedicels connected with the bracts, crowded near the tops of the branches. July. l. linear, obsoletely denticulated. Stems erect, branched at the apex. h. 1ft. Europe, 1800. SYN. E. Halleri.

E. Hallleri (Haller's). A synonym of E. Dodonaei.

E. hirsutum (hairy).* Codlins and Cream. fl. usually pale pink, sometimes white, large, disposed in a leafy, corymbose cluster. July. l., lower ones opposite; upper ones alternate, ovate-lanceolate, hairy, toothed, half stem-clasping. h. 3ft. to 5ft. Europe (Britain), &c. The whole plant is downy, soft, and clammy, exhaling a peculiar acidulous scent. (Sy. En. B. 497.) E. obcordatum (obcordate).* fl. bright rose-purple, large. Summer. l. opposite, ovate, sessile, numerous, mostly longer than the internodes (four to eight lines long), glaucous, opaque. Sierra Nevada, &c., California. A very charming low-growing alpine species, requiring a moist, well-drained spot in rockery.

E. rosmarinifolium (Rosemary-leaved).* fl. red; pedicels connected with the bracts, crowded near the tops of the branches. July. l. linear, obsoletely denticulated. Stems erect, branched towards the middle. h. 2ft. Europe, &c., 1775. SYN. E. angustissimum. (Sy. En. B. 494.)