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Shoreline Plants |
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| Species: | Lythrum salicaria L., purple loosestrife |
| Family: | Lythraceae |
Purple loosestrife has vivid purple-pink flowers and blooms in summer and early fall. This erect, robust, square-stemmed, perennial crowds out native wetland species to form dense stands in shallow water and wet soil throughout Washington. It is important to recognize this invasive, rapidly-spreading European species because every effort needs to be taken to control its spread to new areas. |
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Leaf: The narrow leaves are stalkless, lance-shaped, 3-14 cm long, heart-shaped at the base, and sometimes covered with fine white hairs. They are opposite or whorled, and sometimes alternate on the upper portion of the stem. Stem: The erect stem is usually square in cross-section, 0.5-2 m tall, and often branched. May be covered with fine whitish hairs. Flower: Showy purple-pink flowers occur in erect spikes at the stem tops. The stalkless flowers have 5 sepals and 5-7 delicate wrinkled petals (7-14 mm long). Fruit: Egg-shaped capsule (3-4 mm) has many tiny seeds. A single plant may produce up to 2.7 million seeds in a year. Root: Strong rhizomes. Propagation: Tiny, lightweight seeds are readily spread by waterfowl and other animals. Vegetative reproduction by shoots and rhizomes. Importance of plant: A European species introduced to North America in the early 1800s. It was distributed as an ornamental, but has become a serious pest plant. It is known as the "purple plague" because it displaces native wetland species. Provides minimal wildlife habitat. Has some medicinal uses in its native range. Distribution: Native to Eurasia, but introduced nearly worldwide. Patches located throughout Washington and spreading to new locations. Habitat: Marshes, lake shores, ponds, stream banks, ditches. Occasionally grows in upland areas. May be confused with: Fireweed (Epilobium
angustifolium) a perennial herb that inhabits dry, often disturbed
sites such as clearcuts and roadsides. Fireweed flowers have 4 rounded
petals. Also confused with hardhack (Spiraea douglasii) which is
a native woody shrub rather than a perennial Photographs: Lythrum salicaria, Lythrum salicaria closeup Line Drawings: Lythrum salicaria |
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herb. Neither of these species have square stems. The related native
plant hyssop loosestrife (Lythrum hyssopifolium) is smaller (to
40 cm) and has smaller, lighter-colored flowers.