Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Malvids: Myrtales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
This is one of the most problematic and aggressive alien weeds in North America, replacing native vegetation from whole marshes or sections of marshes. For now, most of this damage has occurred in states well to the north of NC. Read more at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
An extremely noxious weed in the ne. United States, aggressively colonizing and coming to dominate a wide variety of freshwater wetlands, sometimes to the near exclusion of native vegetation, per Weakley's Flora (2022)
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Lythrum salicaria
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Lythrum salicaria
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 135-05-002:
Lythrum salicaria FAMILY Lythraceae
COMMON NAME:
Purple Loosestrife
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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Cindy Roche, Bugwood.org bug_1291022
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_lysa2_001_lvd
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_lysa2_008_lvd
)
)
Keith Bradley kab_l_salicaria_2593
August Hamilton County NY
Adirondack State Park
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Gary L. Piper, Washington State University, Bugwood.org bug_1459319b
Month Unknown
The hairy calyx has 5 teeth at its apex and several veins along its length, per www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
)
Gary L. Piper, Washington State University, Bugwood.org bug_1459319c
Month Unknown
Each wrinkly petal has a dark purple line toward its base, per www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
)
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org bug_1552186
Month Unknown
)
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org bug_1552188
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479533
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479557
Month Unknown
A single rootstock sends up 30-50 erect stems, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479587
Month Unknown
Flowers numerous in terminal spike-like thyrses, per Weakley's Flora (2012).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479638
Month Unknown
Flowers sessile against the flowering stalks, or with very short pedicels, per www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479644
Month Unknown
Leaves usually opposite, less often whorled in 3's, per www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479688
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479710
Month Unknown
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Lythrum salicaria
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Lythrum salicaria
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 135-05-002:
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
892
Forb
Perennial
Habitat: swamps, marshes, other wet places, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Eurasia
Rare
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- SC Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Nuisance Species List, 2003
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- SC List of Regulated Pest Plant Species, 2017
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
LEAVES:
Simple
Whorls of 3, or opposite
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Purple
4-6 merous
5-toothed calyx
6 petals (usually)
12 stamens (usually)
Superior ovary
Bisexual
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Capsule
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p335
- Newcomb's Wildflower Guide (Newcomb, 1977) p351
- Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast (Cotterman, Waitt, & Weakley, 2019) p379
- Wildflowers of the Eastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1999) p054
- Wildflowers of Tennessee (Carman, 2005) p147
- Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians (Horn, Cathcart, Hemmerly, & Duhl, 2005) p184
- Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains (Smith, 1998) p106
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