Lythrum salicaria
Unwanted Organism, National Pest Plant Accord
Purple loosestrife
- Scientific Name
- Lythrum salicaria
- Origin
- Native to Europe, Asia and Australia
- Type
- Weed
- Plant Life-form Type
- Marginal erect/tall
- Taxonomy
- L.
- Presence
- Locally naturalised, especially in Horowhenua and Canterbury, first record 1958
- Habitat
- Lake margins and other wetlands
- Notes
- Major potential problem in still water bodies and wetlands, a major weed in North America.
- Propagation
- Seed or vegetative fragments. Water dispersed, also deliberate planting
- Features
- Tall emergent perennial herb. Normally 60-100 cm tall, but can grow taller. Purple flowers in dense terminal spikes. Stems are angled (4-6 sided). The stalkless leaves can be opposite, often with alternating pairs at 90 degree angles, or sometimes in whorls of 3 near the base. The upper leaves and floral bracts can be alternate. The leaves are 5-12 cm long, wider and rounded or heart-shaped at the base. Leaf shape varies from lanceolate to narrowly oblong. Leaf sometimes covered with fine hairs.
- Source
- TIFBIS
- Regional
- Regional Pest Management Strategy: AUK, BOP, MWT, NTL, STL, NSN/TAS, MBH, WKO, WGN.