Epilobium speciosum - Showy Willow-Herb

Showy Willow-Herb is a perennial erect herb with stems 20-45 cm tall, densely bristly throughout, especially on inflorescence. It is closely similar to River Willow-Herb, but can be distinguished most easily by the size of the flowers compared to the narrower leaves. Flowers are erect in bud, nodding when freshly bloomed. Petals are purplish red or rose, 1.7-2.5 x 1.2-2.2 cm. Sepals are 1.5-2 cm x 3-5 mm. Ovary is purplish green, 1.7-2.5 cm, densely grey-hairy; style 5-7 mm, lower half hairy. Leaves are stalkless, or leaf-stalks up to 2 mm; basal leaf blade brownish green, triangular-ovate to lanceshaped, 1-2 cm, somewhat membranous, Stem leaves are pale green or brown when dry, narrowly ovate to lanceshaped-elliptic, 3.5-7.5 x 0.7-1.8 cm, both surfaces bristly, lateral veins distinct, 3-5 per side, base wedge-shaped, tip pointed, tapering, or sometimes blunt. Bracts are about 1/2 as long as stem leaves. Capsules are 5-9 cm, bristly; stalks 1-3 cm. Chromosome number unknown. Moist gravelly or sandy soils, scree slopes in mountains. Showy Willow-Herb is found in endemic to the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Central Nepal, at altitudes of 3900-4500 m. Flowering: August-September.