LYTHRACE^— LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY 



PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE 



Lythrum salicdria 



Lythrum, Greek, gore; from the purple flowers. 



Perennial. Naturalized from Europe. Found in 

 swamps and wet places; planted about the borders of 

 ponds. 



Rootstock. — Creeping. 



Stems. — Tall, slender, four-angled, three to five feet 

 high, crowned with spikes of many bright, crimson-pink 

 flowers. 



Leaves. — Opposite or whorled in threes; sessile, lanceo- 

 late, three to five inches long; cordate or clasping at base, 

 entire at margin. 



Flowers. — Crimson-pink, crowded and whorled in an 

 interrupted spike. 



Calyx. — Tubular, many-toothed, more or less reddish. 



Corolla. — Petals four to six, inserted on the calyx tube. 



Stamens. — Eight to ten, inserted on the calyx tube; 

 anthers versatile; filaments varying in three different 

 lengths, that is, trimorphous. 



Pistil. — Ovary one, two-celled; style varying in length 

 in different blossoms, trimorphous. 



Fruit. — Capsule, many-seeded. 



The Purple Loosestrife came to us from Europe 

 and has become naturalized along the Hudson River 

 and here and there in New England. It loves to grow 

 in masses on low marshy land and is now extensively 

 used for waterside planting throughout the north. 

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