Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Description: An erect perennial herb in the loosestrife family. Loosestrife plants grow from 4'-10' in height, depending upon conditions, and produce showy flowers throughout much of the summer. Mature plants can have from 30 to 50 stems arising from a single rootstock.
Life cycle: Perennial
Habitat: Invades many wetland and marsh habitats including freshwater wet meadows, tidal and non-tidal marshes, river and stream banks, pond edges, reservoirs, and ditches.
Leaf: Opposite or whorled leaves in groups of 3. Leaves are lanceshaped, stalkless, and heart-shaped or rounded at the base.
Stem: 4 to 6 sided woody stem. Hairless or short-upward pointing hairs.
Flower: Purple, magenta-colored flower spikes produced from July to September. Fused sepals form a tube surrounding the ovary.
Fruit: Reddish brown seeds eclosed in capsules.
Root: Tap root with underground stems.
The problem is….adapts readily to natural and disturbed wetlands. As it establishes and expands, it outcompetes and replaces native grasses, sedges and other flowering plants that provide a higher quality source of nutrition for wildlife. The highly invasive nature allows it to form dense, homogeneous stands that restrict native wetland plant species and reduce the habitat for waterfowl.
