Prairie Loosestrife

(Lysimachia quadriflora)

Prairie Loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora Sims)

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 elongate, narrow, stiff, not distinctly tapered toward the base, and without a distinct petiole. Leaves in whorls usually consisting of a pair of elongate leaves and 2 pairs of shorter, stiffer leaves. Base of plant without runners. Plant 1 to 2 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of eastern and parts of central North America.

Habitat: Prairie Loosestrife is found in wet prairie soils and along the shores of lakes, ponds, and swamps.

Flowering period: July to August.

Similar Species: Lance-leaved Loosestrife is similar but the leaves are in opposite pairs, not whorls, and the leaves are widest in the middle, distinctly tapering at both the base and apex. The flowers of Yellow Loosestrife are concentrated in an elongate, terminal spike, not scattered among the leaves of the top third of the plant.