I'd agree that the "squareness" isn't very helpful - that is why I don't use it
(or number of lines on the stem! From the habitat I'd say it almost has to be
tetragonum or ciliatum, and a quick look through a lens at the hairs on the stem
should separate them - all whitish and non-glandular, more or less appressed
(i.e. not sticking out at right-angles) vs obviously glandular, especially in
the sun when you can see the little globs of 'goo', and sticking out pretty much
at right-angles for ciliatum.


Once you get your eye in the very 'straight' petals opening to form a distinct
cross shape are quite distinctive, and especially so if they have the tips
'dipped in paint' look.

Greyish green is probably OK, but it's also worth considering a hybrid with
parviflorum.

Gill


--- In UKBotany@yahoogroups.com, "Phil Luke" <Phil@...> wrote:
>
> I have had a go at Gill's Ryenats Willowherb key and worked out one to be E.
> tetragonum: stem and leaves rather downy and soft to the touch; stem red;
> leaves 50 X 10mm, greyish-green, slightly toothed and sessile; seed pods
> 80 - 90mm long on 20mm stalks; petals pink and cleft c.1/4 of length; stigma
> club-shaped; habitat - dry waste ground. However, I have 2 problems, a) the
> square-stalked epithet - the stalk just has raised lines running down from
> the lower leaves and, b) hairs on stem not apparently appressed. Looks very
> like John Crellin's image in British Wild Flowers, but looking a 'greyer'
> green. Have I got it right or not - any ideas?
>
> Phil
>