Hausskn.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.150394
Element CodePDONA060D0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMyrtales
FamilyOnagraceae
GenusEpilobium
Other Common NamesÉpilobe à fleurs blanches (FR) milkflower willowherb (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-11
Change Date1988-08-04
Edition Date2025-08-11
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsEpilobium lactiflorum is a perennial forb occurring on cliffs, stream banks, crevices, roadsides, burned-over woodlands, forests, and alpine meadows of subarctic to subalpine regions of North America, Greenland, and Eurasia. There are over 1,000 estimated occurrences of this species rangewide, which are potentially threatened by succession, climate change, altered hydrology, recreation, invasive species, and likely other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, Epilobium lactiflorum is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsEpilobium lactiflorum occurs in subarctic to subalpine regions of North America, Greenland, and Eurasia (POWO 2025). In North America, its western range is from Yukon and the Northwest Territories, Canada, and Alaska south to New Mexico and California in the United States (FNA 2021). The eastern portion of its North American range is from Ontario east to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, south to Maine and New Hampshire (where considered historical) in the United States (FNA 2021, Native Plant Trust 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 37 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are more than 1,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsThreats to Epilobium lactiflorum are not well documented, but potentially include succession, climate change, altered hydrology, recreation, invasive species, and likely other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.