Purple Loosestrife (Gettysburg Battlefield Species Identification Guide)

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

Appearance ²

It is a perennial herb with wooded stems that can grow between 4 and 10 feet high. It has magenta colored spikes that are present throughout the summer months.

Introduction ²

It was established by the 1830’s, but it was initially native to Eurasia. It was introduced through ship’s ballast waters and as an ornamental plant.

Similar Native Species ²

Garden loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) is a non-native, wetland garden escapee with yellow flowers. Smaller, native winged loosestrife (L. alatum) is found in moist prairies and wet meadows, has winged, square stems, solitary flowers in separated leaf axils, paired lower leaves and alternate upper leaves. Swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) arches out from shorelines, has mostly whorled leaves, and flowers in well-separated leaf axils.

Impacts on Ecosystem ²

It has been known to crowd out native species which includes some species of federally endangered orchids which reduces habitat for waterfowl and other organisms.

Citations ²

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/loosestrife.shtml
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_010234.pdf
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/PurpleLoosestrife.html

Sources and Credits

(c) liz west, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lythrum_salicaria,_purple_loosestrife,_Massachusetts.jpg
(c) gburg2016, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Category	Invasive Species

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