Lance-leaved Loosestrife

(Lysimachia lanceolata)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: USDA, NRCS, 1995-Midwestern Wetland Flora.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Lance-leaved Loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata Walt.)

Identification: Flowers yellow, star-like. Apex of petal with a fine hair-like projection and outer margin slightly ragged. Center of flower tinged with red. Flowers on long flower stalks (pedicels), arising from the leaf axils of the upper third of the plant. Leaves in opposite pairs, elongate, but widest in the middle and tapering toward both the apex and the base. Base tapering and without a distinct petiole. Base of plant with runners. Plant 1 to 2 feet in height.

Distribution: Wisconsin in the west to Pennsylvania in the east, southward to Florida and Texas.

Habitat: Lance-leaved Loosestrife is found in forest, thickets, and prairie.

Flowering period: June to August.

Similar Species: Prairie Loosestrife is very similar. However the leaves of Prairie Loosestrife are stiff, narrow and do not taper toward the apex and base. The base of the plant lacks runners. Yellow Loosestrife has the flowers concentrated into an elongate, terminal spike, not scattered among the leaf axils.

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