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Useful Temperate Plants

Epilobium tetragonum

L.

Onagraceae

+ Synonyms

Chamaenerion tetragonum (L.) Scop.

Epilobium × semiadnatum Borbás

Epilobium × wildtianum Domin

Epilobium adnatum Griseb.

Epilobium algidum M.Bieb.

Epilobium dregeanum E.Mey. ex Hausskn.

Epilobium flaccidum Brot.

Epilobium glabellum tetragonum (L.) Maiden & Betche

Epilobium heterophyllum Nutt. ex Hausskn.

Epilobium novum Winterl

Epilobium obscurum M.Bieb.

Epilobium palustre Ucria

Epilobium ptarmicifolium F.W.Schultz

Epilobium salzmannii Boiss. & Reut. ex Nyman

Epilobium serrulatum Pourr. ex Willk.

Epilobium tetragonum Guss.

Epilobium tournefortii Freyn

Common Name: Square-Stemmed Willow Herb

No Image.

General Information

Epilobium tetragonum is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant forming a clump of erect, usually much-branched stems that can grow around 25 - 80cm tall[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Eurasia - Sweden to Portugal, east to West Siberia, Himalayas and Iran; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia

Habitat

Damp woodland clearings, hedgebanks, ditches and cultivated soil[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
]. Spring bogs, flooded meadows, banks of streams[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.60 m
PollinatorsSelf
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in most soils[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
], preferring a well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[
105
Title
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Publisher
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
Year
1976
ISBN
-
Description
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. Used as a vegetable[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in situ or as soon as the seed is ripe.
Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-11-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Epilobium+tetragonum>

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