Epilobium (angustifolium)

Dave Skinner PMC Farm Manager USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Room 211A Hulbert Hall WSU Pullman, Washington 99164-6211 509-335-9689 509-335-2940 (fax) abbie@wsu.edu http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

---

Family Scientific Name:	Onagraceae
Family Common Name:	Evening primrose
Scientific Name:	Epilobium angustifolium L.
Common Synonym:	Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub
Common Name:	fireweed
Species Code:	EPAN2, CHANA2
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, Washington.
General Distribution:	Epilobium angustifolium is a circumboreal species of Europe, Asia, and North America. In North America it is found in moist prairies and open woods from Alaska south to California and east to the Atlantic Coast from lowlands to timberline in the mountains. It is not found in the southeastern US. It is one of the first species to colonize disturbed or burned over ground. The Palouse is at the lower end of its ecological amplitude. It occurs there only in moist meadows and on north facing slopes where there is sufficient soil moisture to support shrub thickets. Wetland indicator status is FACU+ (USFWS 1988).
Known Invasiveness:	Because of its ability to colonize disturbed sites and its rhizomatous nature, it is sometimes considered a weed in agricultural settings.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	10 cu. in.
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Fruit is a capsule. Seed is collected in August or September when the capsules near the midpoint of the inflorescence are splitting. The seed is tiny, plumed, and can be transported long distances on the wind (Solbreck & Andersson 1987). Seed becomes airborne in even the slightest breeze. The inflorescence is cut from the plant and stored under cover at ambient temperatures in a shallow box covered with window screen.
Propagule Processing:	Using a method developed for cleaning willow (Salix) seed (Dawes 2003), a shop vacuum is used to pull the seed thru the window screen and separate it from the attached plumes. Seed is then hand screened to remove impurities. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity. 6,500,000 seeds/lb (USDA NRCS 2006).
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Some studies found that stratification aided germination (McLean 1967, Nichols, 1934). Others report that stratification is not needed (Rose et al 1998, Pavek 1992, Chirco &Turnoer 1986). Three protocols in the Native Plant Network also report stratification aids germination (Baskin & Baskin 2002, Luna & Dedekam 2005, Schulz et al 2001). Several authors report that light may aid germination (Rose et al 1998, Chirco &Turnoer 1986). There is no difference in germination between cold dry or warm dry stored seed (Romme et al 1995). These differences in germination requirements within the species may reflect seed source and the elevation and climatic conditions under which the ecotype evolved. Seed of the Pullman ecotype germinates readily without pretreatment. Unpublished data from trials conducted at the Pullman Plant Materials Center revealed that 69% germination occurred without stratification. 45 days of cold, moist stratification resulted in 5% germination. 90 or more days ofcold, moist stratification resulted in 19% germination. Seed was covered in all treatments and replications. Germination response to light was not tested.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In January seed is sown in the greenhouse in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #4 and covered lightly. Head space of ¬ to « inch is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually begins in 6 days and is complete in 15 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micro-nutrients. Plants may require water every day during the final part of the active growth period.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	2-3 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. They are watered every other day if the weather is cool, and every day during hot, dry spells.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2-4 weeks
Other Comments:	No insect or disease problems have been noted. Plants may be propagated by division (Rose et al 1998, Kruckeberg 1996). Seed does not store for long periods in the seed bank (Granstrom 1987). Flowers are protandrous and bloom from the bottom upward in the inflorescence (Routley & Husband 2003). Polyploidy is common in Epilobium angustifolium. Diploids are commonly found in the coldest climates of northern Canada and the alpine regions of the Rocky Mountains. Tetraploids are found in the warmer climates, and hexaploids in the warmest (Mosquin 1967). It is too invasive to be used in a garden setting (Hitchcock & Cronquist 1973, Kruckeberg 1996). The flowers are highly attractive to bees.
References:	Baskin, Carol C.; Baskin, Jerry M. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of container Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub. ssp. angustifolium plants; University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 17 April 2006). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery. Brenchley, Winifred E. 1933. Colonisation by Epilobium angustifolium. The Journal of Ecology 21:101-102. Broderick. D.H. 1990. The Biology of Canadian Weeds. 93. Epilobium angustifolium L. (Onagraceae). Canadian Journal of Plant Science 70:247-259. Chirco, Ellen, and Terry Turnoer. 1986. Species without AOSA Testing Procedures. The Newsletter of the Association of Official Seed Analysts 60(2):2-66. Available online at http://www.aosaseed.com/Species%20wo%20AOSA%20list%20plus%20adds.pdf Updated November 11/10/03. Craighead, John J., Frank C. Craighead, and Ray J. Davis. 1963. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, MA. 277 pp. Dawes, Denny. 2003. Using a Shop Vacuum to Clean Salicaceae Seeds. Native Plant Journal. 4(2): 140. Faust, Ralph and Peggy Faust. 1999. Wildflowers of the Inland Northwest. Museum of North Idaho. Coeur d'Alene, ID. 141 pp. Granstrom, Anders. 1987. Seed Viability of Fourteen Species During Five Years of Storage in a Forest Soil. Journal of Ecology 75:321-331. Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 730 pp. Horn, Elizabeth L. 1972. Wildflowers 1, the Cascades. Touchstone Press. Beaverton, OR. Horn, Elizabeth L. 1993. Coastal Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. Mountain Press Publishing Co. Missoula, MT. Jolley, Russ. 1988. Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge. Oregon Historical Society Press. Portland, OR. 332pp. Kruckeberg, Arthur R. 1996. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. 2nd ed. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 282 pp. Larrison, Earl J., Grace W. Patrick, William H. Baker, and James A. Yaich. 1974. Washington Wildflowers. The Seattle Audubon Society. Seattle, WA. 376 pp. Luna, Tara; Dedekam, Sara. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of container Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub. ssp. angustifolium plants (116 ml (7 cu in)); Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 17 April 2006). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery. Lyons, C.P. 1997. Wildflowers of Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, Renton, WA. 192 pp. McLean, Alastair. 1967. Germination of Forest Range Species from British Columbia. Journal of Range Management. 20:321-322. Mosquin, Theodore, and Ernest Small. 1971. An Example of Parallel Evolution in Epilobium (Onagraceae) Evolution 25:678-682. Mosquin, Theodore. 1967. Evidence for Autopolyploidy in Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae). Evolution 21:713-719. Nichols, G.E. 1934. The Influence of Exposure to Winter Temperatures upon Seed Germination in Various Native American Plants. Ecology 15: 364-373. Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe, and Dennis Lloyd (eds.). 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 463 pp. Patterson, Patricia A, Kenneth E. Neiman, and Jonalea R. Tonn. 1985. Field Guide to Forest Plants of Northern Idaho. General Technical Report INT-180. USDA Forest Service Intermountain Research Station. Ogden, Utah. 246 pp. Piper, C.V., and R.K. Beattie. 1914. The Flora of Southeastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Lancaster, PA. Press of the New Era Printing Company. 296 p. Rickett, Harold W. 1973. Wildflowers of the United States: The Central Mountains and Plains. Vol. 6. (3 parts). McGraw Hill, New York. Romme, William H., Laura Bohland, Cynthia Perischetty, and Tanya Caruso. 1995. Germination Ecology of Some Common Forest Herbs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. Arctic and Alpine Research 27:407-412. Rose, Robin, Caryn E.C. Chachulski, and Diane L. Haase. 1998. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR. 248 pp. Routley, M.B., and B.C. Husband. 2003. The effect of protandry on siring success in Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae) with different inflorescence sizes. International Journal of Organic Evolution 57:240-248. Schultz, Jan; Beyer, Patty; Williams, Julie. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of container Epilobium angustifolium L. plants; Hiawatha National Forest, Marquette, Michigan. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 17 April 2006). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery. Solbreck, Christer, and David Andersson. 1987. Vertical Distribution of Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium, Seeds in the Air. Canadian Journal of Botany 65:2177-2178. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. 583 pp. Strickler, Dee. 1993. Wayside Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. The Flower Press, Columbia Falls, MT. 272 pp. Tilford, Gregory L. 1997. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Mountain Press Publ. Co., Missoula, MT. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 1988. National list of vascular plant species that occur in wetlands. US Fish & Wildlife Service Biological Report 88 (24). USDA NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database, 6 March 2006 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Whitson, Tom D., Larry C. Burrill, Steven A. Dewey, David W. Cudney, B.E. Nelson, Richard D. Lee, and Robert Parker. 1996. Weeds of the West. 5th ed. Western Society of Weed Science. Newark, CA.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Epilobium angustifolium L. plants 10 cu. in.; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/03). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.