Purple Loosestrife The scene is breathtakingly beautiful, a thick brush of purple flowers blankets Canada's wetlands. This blanket silences the expected sounds of the wetland environment, birds chirping, ducks splashing, insects buzzing and animals thriving. This unnatural silence is disturbing, the favourite flowers that used to litter this landscape are no longer visible, the water that used to ripple continuously is perfectly still. The wetland is dead, except for this overpowering, hardy purple
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
The Purple Loosestrife is an invasive species that continues to reproduce and slowly being treated. The invasive species of the Purple Loosestrife, or Lythrum Salicaria, is a wetland plant that can produce up to 2.7 million seeds with each plant blooming about 30 flowering stems from early July until early September. From their long flower spikes, they have five to seven pink purple petals with a purple rose flower. This invasive species can grow from anywhere between four feet to ten feet tall
Purple loosestrife is perennial plant, which can grow up to 1~1.5 metres tall. Its stems are reddish purple and its cross-section is square. Its flowers are reddish purple, too. Fruits of purple loosestrife are small capsule that containing seeds in it. Their seeds spread by wind, water, wild animals, and humans. They were introduced to North America by soil that used as ballast in European sailing ships and early settlers. Also, it was used by bee keepers as large source of nectar. Currently, purple