Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 219 



LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY (Lythraceae). 



A small family of herbs or shrubs, usually with op- 

 posite, entire-edged leaves and perfect flowers. 



PURPLE or SPIKED LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum 

 Salicaria) (EUROPEAN). Undoubtedly this species, 

 which came to us from Europe, is the most beautiful 

 of the genus. It is quite commonly known by the 

 names of "Long Purples" and "Spiked Willow-herb." 

 It is a very ornamental plant and forms a very attrac- 

 tive contrast to the surrounding vegetation when seen 

 growing in profusion, as it so often does, along the 

 banks of rivers and ponds. The rootstalk is perennial 

 so that, once established, this species will spring up 

 year after year in the same place. 



The plant grows from 2 to 4 feet high and branches 

 towards the top; during the flowering season, from 

 June to August, we may see from one to, often, as 

 many as half a dozen of these beautiful, long spikes 

 flowering simultaneously on the same plant. The 

 green leaves are stemless, lance-shaped and grow op- 

 positely, or in circles of three, on the slightly hairy 

 stem. The many purple flowers, making up the spike, 

 each have six long petals and are trimorphous, that 

 is flowers on the same plant have, relatively, three 

 different lengths of stamens and pistils. They are 

 cross-fertilized by bees and various species of butter- 

 flies. Purple Loosestrife is found locally in swamps 

 and on marshy borders of streams from Me. to Del. 

 and westwards. 



LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum alatum) is a tall slend- 

 er, native species growing 1 to 3 feet high, angular 

 and branching. The deep green, lance-shaped leaves 

 are set oppositely on the lower stem and alternately 

 on the upper branches. The flowers appear sparing- 

 ly from the axils of the leaves near the ends of the 

 branches. This species grows in moist ground from 

 N. S. to. Minn, and southwards to the Gulf. 



