Chamaenerion angustifolium is a plant in the family Onagraceae, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It goes by several common names: fireweed in North America, great willowherb in parts of Canada, rosebay willowherb in Britain and Ireland. The generic name Chamaenerion comes from the Greek chamai (“low to the ground” or “dwarf”) and nerion (“oleander”), evoking the image of a dwarf oleander. This is complemented by the Latin specific epithet angustifolium (“narrow‑leaved”). The common name fireweed derives from the species’ propensity to colonize burnt sites following forest fires. In Russia, the leaves have traditionally been used to prepare an herbal infusion known as Ivan‑Chai (“Ivan‑Tea”). The plant has a long history of use in traditional medicine.
