Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Malvids: Myrtales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Purple Loosestrife at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
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
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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.
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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.
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Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org bug_1552186
Month Unknown
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Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org bug_1552188
Month Unknown
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479533
Month Unknown
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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.
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479587
Month Unknown
Flowers numerous in terminal spike-like thyrses, per Weakley's Flora (2012).
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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
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5479710
Month Unknown
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 135-05-002:
Lythrum salicaria
FAMILY
Lythraceae
892
Forb
Perennial
Non-native: Eurasia
Documented growing wild in - NC -
Rare here, but aggressively colonizing wetlands in ne US
Look for it in swamps, marshes, other wet places, per Weakley's Flora
Click here to see a more detailed map from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium,
or click here to see a map from SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
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
Bisexual
4-6 merous
5-toothed calyx
6 petals (usually)
12 stamens (usually)
Superior ovary
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 p335
- Newcomb's Wildflower Guide p351
- Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast p379
- Wildflowers of the Eastern United States p054
- Wildflowers of Tennessee p147
- Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians p184
- Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains p106