This looks like something really common that I should recognize, but I've never seen these fuzzy seed heads on tall wildflowers with what were small dark pink flowers. These are growing along the fence at the north edge of the UBCBG Native Garden. They don't look like they'd be friends of the garden.
Pics are a bit fuzzy but I think it's Epilobium angustifolium or fireweed. It's real common around here. It's one of the first flowers to come back after a fire. It was also one of the first to come back after Mt St. Helens erupted. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilobium_angustifolium They do tend to spread but I just leave them until I need the room for something better ;)) barb
The PICS are fuzzy!? The plants are fuzzy. OK, here are two more, one showing the red stems mentioned in the Wikipedia article. I'm sure you're right about the ID. Thanks, Barbara.
Over here it is also called Rosebay Willow herb,or Fireweed. Not sure if the most up to date name is Chamerion angustifolium or Epilobium angustifolium. It is a pest. Those light fluffy seeds get caught in the slightest breeze and blow everywhere. It is one of the first plants to colonize waste ground. Not sure if it is still the case, but years ago all the banks along every railway track were just covered in it. Weed it out asap to stop it spreading! http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...XzBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:0 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1392213 http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=ro...=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1242&bih=529
Thanks, Silver surfer, for the posting and the alternative or new name. Very few photos of the seed heads, yet they're very striking. Maybe the UBCBG people think the Native Garden wouldn't be complete without them! They do seem right now to be confined to that one small area. Those seed heads look full of ambition though.
