Purple Loosestrife is a plant with diverse qualities. It blooms profusely and in the past has been loved by many for its ornamental value. More recently it is drawing attention to itself for outcompeting native species and altering the landscape of wetlands throughout the world.
In examining this perennial herb, turned weed, we will learn where it came from, where it grows and the impact it has had on North American ecosystems. We will also review control methods, both successful and unsuccessful.
Origin and Description
Lythrum salicaria is a part of the family of Lythraceae, known as the Henna family. The genus Lythrum is comprised of 38 species of annuals, perennials, and subshrubs. The name Lythrum comes from the greek lythron, meaning blood. This is most likely referring to the reddish-purple colour of the flowers (Hyam and Pankhurst, 1995.) The species name salicaria alludes to the long narrow leaf shape, which resembles the leaves of the Willow (Salix spp.) (Jacobs, 2008). Although Lythrum salicaria is referred to by more than 10 common names throughout North America, the most commonly accepted is Purple Loosestrife.
Native throughout Europe and Asia, Lythrum is an herbaceous perennial that dies back in the winter. Shoots emerge from the woody crown in late spring. Plants generally grow to 6 feet, but can reach heights of 10 feet. The stems and leaves are mostly hairy. Flowers have a tubular calyx with five to seven lobes and ridges between each lobe. Two stamens are fused to each lobe. Flowers are usually reddish-purple but can vary to white, pink, purple, or red. The flowers are densely arranged on a terminal spike and result in a 1.25 to 1.9 inch capsule. Each capsule contains many small, lightweight, flat, and angu...
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... R. (1993). Biological control of purple loosestrife. BioScience, 43(10), 680-686.
Piper, G. L. "Biological Control of the Wetlands Weed Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) in the Pacific Northwestern United States." Hydrobiologia 340.1-3 (1996): 291-94. Web.
Tavernia, Brian G., and Reed, J. Michael. "The Impact Of Exotic Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) On Wetland Bird Abundances." American Midland Naturalist 168.2 (2012): 352-363. Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Thompson, Daniel Q., Ronald L. Stuckey, and Edith B. Thompson. Spread, Impact, and Control of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) in North American Wetlands.Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1987. Print.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2004). Lythrum salicaria plants profile. Retrieved from
In Purple Hibiscus written by Chimamanda Adichie, the story of Kambili and her experiences throughout Nsukka and Enugu fit with the Hero’s Journey, a model of narrative that describes “the hero,” an archetype that ultimately reaches a great achievement through the stages of the Hero’s Journey. Although played in a realistic setting, unlike many of the examples portrayed in magical worlds such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, Kambili experiences the same stages of the journey and by definition, is considered a hero. The stages that contribute the most significantly to modeling the Hero’s Journey of Kambili is The Ordinary World, Crossing the Threshold, and The Ordeal.
any new plants or the selling of the weed in nurseries and join the Ontario
Mother Nature has provided her tools since the beginning of time. One particular herb I want to discuss with you is Torilis Nodosa, also known as Knotted Hedge Parsley. Knotted Hedge Parsley is a plant that branches out at the base, low and spreading. They have five small white flowers, each that are in compact, compound umbels that come from the leaf axes. It is native to parts of Europe, especially the Mediterranean Basin and it is known elsewhere, such as North America, as an introduced species and a common weed. They spread out in all areas of the world, including residential lawns that grow in the Spring and Summer, which is May through August. They will also grow all year in colder climates.
The color of the purple. New York: Pocket Books-Washington Square, 1982.
Invasive species do not only affect other species in their ecosystem, but also cost the United States more than one hundred and twenty million dollars each year in damages (“Cost” par. 2). Invasive species come in all different forms, and all have a negative impact on the environment. These species can come into a new area without being detected at first, but as time goes on their effects can soon be seen. Efforts are being made to prevent these invasive species from destroying fish population and habitat, but in order to be successful they need to be done on a much larger scale. In order to protect Wisconsin's waters, which are already infected with many invasive species that cause great damage to our bodies of water, more actions need to be taken. It is vital to remove all invasive species from Wisconsin’s waters because it will improve fish habitat, native fish population, and water quality.
Hewes, Henry. “ A Plant Grows in Chicago,” in Saturday Review, Vol. XLII, No. 14, April 4, 1959, p. 28.
Many common names are used for cattails. T. latifolia goes by the name broadleaf cattail, common cattail and soft flag. T. angustifolia has been called narrow leaf cattail and nail rod. Blue cattail and blue flag describe T. glauca. T. domengensis is commonly known as southern cattail. Other names include flagtail, marsh beetle, blackcap, water torch and candlewick, cat-of-nine tails and reed mace (Coon 1960). Some Native American names have been translated as prairie chicken feathers, eye itch, and roof grass.
Lauffer, H. B., Williams, P., & Lauffer, D. (2012). Wisconsin Fast Plants® Program. Retrieved February 26, 2014, from http://www.fastplants.org
St. John's Wort scientifically known as Hypericum Perforatum, an herbal remedy generally used to treat depression, is making a rise throughout Europe and the United States. St. John's Wort is a perennial plant that produces abundant yellow flowers and grows naturally throughout much of the world, including specifically in northern California, southern Oregon, and Colorado. It usually flowers on “sunlight hills and forest edges” during the summer, between June and August. It was named after St. John the Baptist and is often harvested and in full bloom around St. John's Day, June 24.
By carelessly shifting around organisms, with their awesome genetic potential, we have caused major ecological disasters. Gone is the most important tree in the Northeast, the American Chestnut, our premier landscaping tree, the American Elm, and gone are huge tracts of productive fresh water marsh. Now these marshes contain only monocultures (only one species present) of purple loosestrife.
For my project I decided to create and laser cut several objects in order to portray the answer to the essential questions I chose in relation to Purple Hibiscus. I wanted to focus on the relationship between Papa and Kambili, especially on Papa’s end because of how strict he is and the punishments he places when he is not obeyed. I started by asking a broad question on whether or not Papa’s expression of love really was love. This leads into the next object I cut out which was Papa using a whip implying he was beating someone. Papa’s way of showing love was very obscure as he rarely showed his love for his children, but rather beat and destroyed his children physically and mentally, in addition to showing glimpses of love which his children strived to have
Garden cress, botanically was called Cardomine, a diminutive of Cardamom, called in Latin Nasturtium, sometimes called nose-smart ( kara-damon, Heart-afflicting), so nasturtium is nasi-tortium ( nose-twisting), called so in sequence of its pungency, Called Ladies smock because the flowers resemble linen exposed to whiten on grass. There is, however, a purple tint which mars its perfect whiteness.
Whitted, Q. (2004, September 20). Arts & Culture. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from New Georgia Encyclopedia: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/color-purple
Seagrass is on the decline around the world and it is an extremely vital marine ecosystem found in shallow water mainly distributed throughout tropical seas, from a temperature around 4oC to 24oC (Green and Short 2003). They are the only true flowering plant (angiosperm) to live in aquatic conditions providing support and shelter for vast amounts of species (Orth et al. 2006; Jackson et al. 2001). They are a marine aquatic plant and a keystone species for many coastal areas found all over the world (Libralato, Christensen and Pauly 2006). Although there is not a huge variety of species, there are only around 60 species globally and over 14% of them are endangered (Green and Short 2003; Orth et al. 2006). The different seagrass ecosystems perform relatively similarly throughout the varying species (Turner and Schwarz 2006). This study will examine the various importances of seagrass and to what extent they are vital for the survival of species within their ecosystem. In addition to this, the role of seagrass in important ecosystem processes will be examined. The abundance of coastal regions are closely linked with seagrasses as they greatly contribute to productivity. Seagrass meadows are highly productive and are ideal for nurseries and providing a relatively safe habitat and shelter from predators (Hughes et al. (2008).