Can anyone tell me what flower/weed this is?

Big Wolf

All over central Scotland just now the countryside is currently covered with purple flowers that grow up to about 5 feet high. They grow in large groups and I was wondering what this flower/weed is called.

Can anyone tell me? photos below, (click on either to get a bigger image)

Growing in a group

Single stem up close

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ghiribizzo · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:09 pm Post subject:

Rosebay willowherb.
Fireweed in 'murica.

Epilobium angustifolium. Now who do we know with a name like that? Hmm...
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Big Wolf · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks, looks like it can be even be eaten! See wikipedia link

Hmmm... the Latin name is most interesting and a sheer fluke!
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Scotsbob · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:17 am Post subject:

crazy Frog · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject:

Not seen them since I was a little girl Angel

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ghiribizzo · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:00 pm Post subject:

Whaat? Do the railway lines and cuttings of the shire of York not have tons of them?
Oo-err. Confused

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allieballie · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:23 pm Post subject:

Yes, I was wondering that too because these flowers are EVERYWHERE! And, if I can delve back into the depths of my brain to my second year Plant Science course at Aberdeen (Aberdeen too posh to call it Botany!), I do seem to recall that it was originally spread from the South via railway lines.
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HighlandNick · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject:

It's an escapee (apparently) from Kew Gardens. Passing trains blow the seeds further along the line each year and so it has spread right across the country.

Firth of Forth · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 7:39 am Post subject:

But is it a flower or a weed? I pulled some out of my garden recently.
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Firth of Forth · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 7:40 am Post subject:

But is it a flower or a weed? I pulled some out of my garden recently. What defines a weed?
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allieballie · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:21 am Post subject:

I guess you could simply view a "weed" as being a plant growing in a place that you don't want it to grow, so rosebay willow herb can be whatever you want it to be. If you like it then fine - it's not a weed. Personally I see them as weeds because I think that they just take over huge areas where it would be nicer to see a wider variety of other plants growing. Having said that I do have a jar at home which contains a spilt seed pod from a rosebay wilow herb - put the seed pod in the jar before it bursts, then when it does dry out and open, you get three curled-back prongs of pod and a jar full of the dandelion-like seeds. Looks pretty (but no wonder my house is full of junk!).
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Haggis Hunter · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:47 am Post subject:

Naefearjustbeer · Founder member Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 118

I can vouch for it being able to spread easily it has turned my garden into a jungle it spreads like wildfire. I like it though It blocks out all the low lying weeds and gives an nice bit of colour.
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ghiribizzo · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:16 pm Post subject:

In the interests of scientific geocaching research, whilst out with cachehound I passed one of my caches tonight, surrounded by the plant/weed and rabbits.
The flowers actually have a subtle pleasant scent, not anywhere as in-your-face as honeysuckle.
The weed has outlasted the railway. Beeching exterminated it in the 60's.
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