fireweed

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun tall North American perennial with creeping rootstocks and narrow leaves and spikes of pinkish-purple flowers occurring in great abundance in burned-over areas or recent clearings; an important honey plant
noun an American weedy plant with small white or greenish flowers

From fire + weed. The fire-part may be of same origin as eld-part in dialectal Norwegian Nynorsk eldmerke (“fireweed”).

Fortunately, the train was still going at a comparatively slow speed; fortunately also, Rilla retained enough sense to jump the way it was going; nevertheless, she fell and sprawled helplessly down the embankment, landing in a ditch full of a rank growth of golden-rod and fireweed. — Rilla of Ingleside, L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Along most of its extent it was lined with thick-set young spruces crowding down to the roadway, with here and there a break where the back field of a Spencervale farm came out to the fence or an expanse of stumps was aflame with fireweed and goldenrod. — Anne of Avonlea, L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

giant willowherb, rosebay willowherb, wickup, Epilobium angustifolium

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