Seeding fireweed (Chamerion or Epilobium angustifolium)

Image: © Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff Taken: 7 Aug 2008

Usually known as rosebay willowherb in the UK, its North American name pays tribute to the vivid, rampant qualities of this very interesting plant which has the ability to colonize, with great rapidity, large areas of scorched earth and even land that has been subjected to oil spillage. This is due to the longevity of its tiny airborne seeds, seen here breaking free from the lanceolate pods, since they can remain dormant in the ground for many years. In addition the plant has been utilized in many regions of the northern hemisphere as a foodstuff and an animal fodder, while the fluffy down that carries the seeds also had its uses especially among the people of the north American and Siberian sub-arctic. It has also been important medicinally and is named in Italy and Spain for St Anthony, on account of its use as a remedy for St Anthony's fire, an alarming condition caused by ergotism. The flower is the emblem of the Yukon. See http://www.paghat.com/fireweed.html

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