Scientific Name | Lythrum salicaria L. |
Common Name | Purple Loosestrife |
Family | Lythraceae (Loosestrife) |
Class | Dicot |
Description | Erect herbaceous perennial, overwinters by root crown, showy purple flowers, prolific seed production |
US Distribution | Northern two-thirds of US and southern Canada |
Worldwide Distribution | Temperate northern hemisphere and Australia; not a nuisance in Europe; native to Europe |
Ecology | Moist soil to emergent shallow water areas, may even grow in moist upland areas |
Economic Importance | Imported for honey production and as an ornamental |
Ecological Importance | Major negative impact on wetlands in North America; reduces waterfowl food and nesting |
Notes | Seedlings established best on moist soil or mudflats |
Purple Loosestrife
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