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dwarf fireweed

Scientific Name: Chamerion latifolium

Family: Onagraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb, Subshrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Dwarf Fireweed (Chamerion latifolium)

Dwarf Fireweed, scientifically known as Chamerion latifolium, is a captivating flowering plant belonging to the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). It is also commonly known as River Beauty Willowherb, Arctic Fireweed, and Broad-leaved Willow Herb.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Chamerion latifolium (L.) Holub
  • Family: Onagraceae (Evening-Primrose Family)
  • Synonyms: Chamaenerion latifolium, Chamerion subdentatum, formerly Epilobium latifolium

Distribution and Habitat

  • Dwarf Fireweed has a circumboreal distribution, meaning it is found throughout the northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including subarctic regions.
  • It is often found growing in sandy and gravelly moist soil, particularly along streams.
  • Specific locations mentioned include Alaska, Iceland, and the Arctic.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Dwarf Fireweed is a perennial herb that typically grows to a height of 0.3 to 0.6 meters (1-3 feet), but can be smaller (around 6 inches).

Quirky Facts

  • One source compares Dwarf Fireweed to a "cheap throwaway ink pen overshadowed by a fine fountain pen" when contrasted with common Fireweed.
  • In Inuktitut (Baffin Island), it is known as "Paunnat paunnait".

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • One experimental study focuses on dwarf fireweed's interactions with herbivores.