Rosebay Willow-Herb is a perennial herbaceous plant, native
throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The name Fireweed derives
from the species' abundance as a coloniser on burnt sites after forest
fires. It is an erect leafy perennial herb up to 2 m tall, with long
nearly leafless spike-like cluster of showy pink flowers, and numerous
spirally-arranged narrow lanceshaped leaves on the stem below. Flowers,
held horizontally, 2-2.5 cm across, with 4 spreading obovate stalked
petals and shorter narrow dark purple sepals. Stamens are prominent,
curved outwards. Style is 1-2 cm long, curved downwards, with 4 stigmas.
Leaves are 2.5-20 cm long, nearly hairless. Capsule is 2.5-8 cm long,
finely hairy. Rosebay Willow-Herb is found in the Himalayas, from Afghanistan to
SW China, at altitudes of 3000-4300 m. It is also cultivated as a garden
flower in the Western world. Flowering: June-September.
Identification credit: Gurcharan Singh
Photographed in Leh, Ladakh.
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The flower labeled Rosebay Willow-Herb is ...