Epilobium parviflorum

The genus name derives from the Greek words "epi" meaning "upon" and "lobos" meaning "lobe", with reference to position of the petals above the ovary.{{cite web |title=Definition of EPILOBIUM |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epilobium |website=www.merriam-webster.com |access-date=30 August 2021 |language=en}} The specific Latin name of "parviflorum" means "small flowers".

File:Epilobium parviflorum korseby.jpeg

The biological form of Epilobium parviflorum is hemicryptophyte scapose,Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 155 as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves.

Epilobium parviflorum reaches on average {{convert|30|-|80|cm}} in height. The stem is erect and densely covered with hairs, especially in the lower part. The leaves are opposite, unstalked but not amplexicaul, lanceolate and toothed, rounded at the base, {{convert|4|-|10|cm}} long. The tiny flowers are pale pink or pale purple, {{convert|6|-|7|mm}} in diameter, with four petals, eight stamens and a 4-lobed stigma. Flowering occurs from June to August in the Northern Hemisphere. The hermaphroditic flowers are either self-fertilized (autogamy) or pollinated by insects (entomogamy).[http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Epilobium+parviflorum Pfaf.org] Fruit is a three-to seven-centimeter long capsule containing very small black seeds (about 1 mm long), with white fibres that allow the dispersal by wind. This species is quite similar to Epilobium hirsutum, but the flowers are much smaller.[http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/species.asp?item=3544 Flora of Northern Ireland]

Epilobium parviflorum is sometimes mistaken for E. roseum, whose clavate stigma contrasts with the 4-lobed stigma of E. parviflorum. More obviously, the undersides of and fully developed leaves of E. parviflorum are covered with up to {{convert|0.5|mm|in}} long unglandular trichomes. Trichomes of E. roseum are always shorter at up to {{convert|0.3|mm|in}}.{{sfn|Strgulc Krajšek|Šegedin|Jogan|2009|p=163}}

It is one of the most widespread species in its genus.{{sfn|Strgulc Krajšek|Šegedin|Jogan|2009|p=163}} It plant occurs in most of Europe, including Britain, from Sweden to Northern Africa and Western Asia up to Kashmir, in United States and Canada.[https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=EPPA5 Plants.usda][http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=epilobium+parviflorum Schede di Botanica] In Croatia, it is found everywhere but subalpine and altimontane altitudes.{{sfn|Strgulc Krajšek|Šegedin|Jogan|2009|p=163}}

It grows in very moist to wet habitats.{{sfn|Strgulc Krajšek|Šegedin|Jogan|2009|p=163}}

It prefers marshes and swamps, moist mountain meadows and slopes, at an average altitude of {{convert|0|-|1400|m}} above sea level, with a maximum of {{convert|2500|m}}.

Extracts of this plant have been used by traditional medicine in disorders of the prostate gland, bladder and kidney, having an antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect .{{Cite web |url=http://www.naturesmethod.com/Learn_About_Your_Health/Small_Flowered_Willow_Herb.php |title=Natures Method |access-date=2011-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925012912/http://www.naturesmethod.com/Learn_About_Your_Health/Small_Flowered_Willow_Herb.php |archive-date=2011-09-25 |url-status=dead }}{{cite journal | last1 = Hevesi | first1 = BT | last2 = Houghton | first2 = PJ | last3 = Habtemariam | first3 = S | last4 = Kéry | first4 = A | title = Antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect of Epilobium parviflorum Schreb | journal = Phytotherapy Research | volume = 23 | issue = 5| pages = 719–724 | doi = 10.1002/ptr.2725 | pmid = 19107731 | date=May 2009| s2cid = 5095826 }}{{cite journal|author1=V. Steenkamp |author2=M. C. Gouws |author3=M. Gulumian |author4=E. E. Elgorashi |author5=J. van Staden |title=Studies on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of herbal remedies used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis|journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology|volume=103|number=1|date=January 2006|pages=71–75|pmid= 16122891|doi=10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.007}} Epilobium parviflorum herb has been prescribed internally as tea in the traditional Austrian medicine for treatment of disorders of the prostate, kidneys, and urinary tract.{{cite journal | last1 = Vogl | first1 = S | last2 = Picker | first2 = P | last3 = Mihaly-Bison | first3 = J | last4 = Fakhrudin | first4 = N | last5 = Atanasov | first5 = AG | last6 = Heiss | first6 = EH | last7 = Wawrosch | first7 = C | last8 = Reznicek | first8 = G | last9 = Dirsch | first9 = VM | last10 = Saukel | first10 = J | last11 = Kopp | first11 = B | year = 2013 | title = Ethnopharmacological in vitro studies on Austria's folk medicine - An unexplored lore in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs | journal = J Ethnopharmacol | volume = 149| issue = 3| pages = 750–71| doi = 10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.007 | pmid = 23770053 | pmc=3791396}} Extracts of Epilobium have been shown to inhibit proliferation of human prostate cells in-vitro by affecting progression of the cell cycle.{{cite journal | last1 = Vitalone | first1 = A | display-authors = etal | date = May 2003 | title = Extracts of various species of Epilobium inhibit proliferation of human prostate cells | journal = J Pharm Pharmacol | volume = 55 | issue = 5| pages = 683–90 | doi=10.1211/002235703765344603| pmid = 12831512 | s2cid = 23122229 | doi-access = free }}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/onagraceae/epilobium-parviflorum.htm West Highland Flora]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120402140215/http://www.epilobium-parviflorum.com/index.html Epilobium parviflorum]

• {{cite journal |date=2009-06-30 |first1=Sumona |last1=Strgulc Krajšek |first2=Tamara |last2=Šegedin |first3=Nejc |last3=Jogan |title=Revision of Epilobium and Chamerion in the Croatian herbaria ZA and ZAHO |pages=155–167 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/38479 |journal=Natura Croatica |eissn=1848-7386 |volume=18 |issue=1}}
• Tutin, T.G. et al. - Flora Europaea, second edition - 1993

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikispecies}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120402121052/http://www.aphotoflora.com/d_epilobium_parviflorum_hoary_willowherb.html Photo Flora]}}
• [https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id40171/ Biolib]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q159094}}

parviflorum

Category:Plants described in 1771

Category:Taxa named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber

Category:Flora of Malta