Little willowherb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little willowherb |
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| Epilobium minutum flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Epilobium
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| Species: |
minutum
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Epilobium minutum is a small wildflower often called the little willowherb. People also know it as chaparral willowherb or desert willowherb. Its name, minutum, means "tiny" in Latin, which fits because it's a very small plant. Sometimes, it's called "smallflower willowherb," but that name usually refers to a different plant called Epilobium parviflorum.
This plant grows for only one year. It is native to western North America. You can find it from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada down to California and Arizona in the United States. It loves to grow in fields and meadows. You might also spot it near vernal pools, which are temporary ponds. Interestingly, it is one of the first plants to grow in areas that have recently had a wildfire.
What Does the Little Willowherb Look Like?
Epilobium minutum is a very small and thin plant. Its stems are slender and can branch out. They usually grow up to about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are oval-shaped. They are quite sparse, meaning there aren't many of them. Each leaf is only about 1 or 2 centimeters long.
At the top of the stems, you will find tiny flowers. These flowers are usually white or light purple. Each petal has a small notch. The flowers are only a few millimeters long, making them quite small. After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit. This fruit is a long, thin capsule. It is about 1 or 2 centimeters long. This plant is much smaller than most other plants in its family.
