FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Epilobium anagallidifolium, alpine willowherb

Epilobium anagallidifolium; the alpine willowherb is a highland species. Generally it grows on lowly amongst mosses. The leaves have rounded tips and often have red veins (the leaves can be reddish as well). A charicteristic feature is the hook-shaped curved stems under the maturing fruits. It grows in areas well covered by snow in winter. Compared to other Willowherb species the alpine willow seems to want to stay close to the earth. Not only doesn't it want to grow upright stems, it also bends down the developing fruit from a skyward position to a earth/ground position.
It is a member of the Willowherb family (Onagraceae).

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