Great hairy Willow Herb, Salt of the Shepherds
Epilobium hirsutum

Family: Onagraceae

What it is like

A robust, softly hairy herb. It grows to 2 m tall and keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are opposite and can be in rings. They are oblong or sword shaped and do not have stalks. They partly clasp the stems. They are coarsely toothed and have leaf like bracts. The flowers are bright purplish-pink. They are 15-25 mm across and born in leafy racemes. The petals have notches. The stigma has 4 lobes.

There are about 165 Epilobium species. They are mostly temperate.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp and waste places. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Eswatini, Europe, France, Greece, Himalayas, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, North America, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Violent poisoning with epileptiform convulsions has been reported caused by these leaves. The leaves have been eaten as well as used for tea. The fresh young leaves are used in salads together with chili. Usually the leaves are simply licked fro their salty taste. The flowers are eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, leaves, stems, flowers, exudate, caution

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Codlins and cream, Dlakavi vrbovec, Greater willowherb, Hasanhüseyinçiçeği, Icikiciki, Itswayi lentaba, Letswai-la-badisane, Mosika nokana, Noha

Synonyms

Epilobium mirei Quezel; Epilobium tomentosum Vent.; Epilobium sericeum Benth. ex Wall.; Epilobium villosum Thiub.;