Subalpine, alpine.  Streamsides, tundra. Summer.
Courthouse Trailhead, July 15, 2007.

Alpine Fireweed is much less common than Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) and can be distinguished from Fireweed by its habitat and by a number of growth characteristics: It is shorter, has fewer flowers in its raceme, the style is shorter than the stamens, and leaves are smooth with only a noticeably long, central vein.  Flower color of the two species is very similar.

The species was named Epilobium latifolia by Linnaeus in 1753.  Josef Holub renamed it Chamerion latifolium in 1972 and then it was named Chamerion danielsii in 1981 by Löve and Löve. The latter name is accepted only by Weber. The former name is accepted by most botanists, but almost all floras agree with this statement from Intermountain Flora: Chamerion is "an arbitrarily shortened derivative of Chamaenerion, a pre-Linnean epithet of Epilobium angustifolium meaning dwarf oleander". Alexander Sennikov's 2011 Taxon article, "Chamerion or Chamaenerion (Onagraceae)? The Old Story in New Words" traces the treatments and name changes for the species and concludes that "the correct generic name [is] Chamaenerion". 

Subalpine, alpine.  Streamsides, tundra. Summer.
Courthouse Trailhead, July 15, 2007.

Subalpine, alpine.  Streamsides, tundra. Summer.
Courthouse Trailhead, July 15, 2007.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Chamaenerion latifolium