WILLOW HERBS

The most beautiful of the Willowherbs is the Rosebay (Chamerion angustifolium).  Also known as fireweed it has covered a large area in Filnore Woods between posts 13 and 14.

The flowers open in succession up the stem. 

You can see the dark anthers on white stalks and the white stigma divided into 4 lobes.

We also have more than enough clumps of the Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) growing out in the grassland.  Quite a handsome plant but, like its cousins, a bit invasive.  Again you can see the stigmas with 4 lobes.

The four-lobed stigma is also a distinguishing feature of the Broad-leaved Willowherb (Epilobium montanum).  

But this plant is much smaller and the pale flowers are tiny.  It is very versatile and seeds quickly so that it can become quite a pest in the garden.

You can see the long green seedpods in the photo below and the curly brown remains of seed pods that have shed their fluff-covered seeds. 

All the willowherbs produce lots of fluff, which annoyingly often lands on ripening blackberries.