Minnesota Wildflowers


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Lysimachia thyrsiflora (Tufted Loosestrife)

Plant Info
Also known as: Water Loosestrife
Genus:Lysimachia
Family:Myrsinaceae (Myrsine)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; bogs, swamps, wet fields
Bloom season:May - July
Plant height:1 to 3 feet
County distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 6-petals Cluster type: round

[photo of flowers] Flowers are in round clusters to 1½ inches long on hairy stems that arise from the leaf axils about midway up the plant. Individual flowers are yellow, about 1/3 inch across with 6 narrow petals and 6 long yellow stamens surrounding an orange center. One plant has a few to several flowers. There are no flowers at the top of the plant.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 5 inches long and ¾ inch wide, toothless, tapering to a pointed tip, and no leaf stem. There may be fine hairs along the mid-vein on the underside of a leaf. Attachment is opposite.

[photo of lower leaves] Leaves on the lower part of the plant are small and scale-like. The main stem is smooth towards the base of the plant but hariy on the upper part.

Notes:

The flowers are unique enough to make this plant pretty easy to identify. All of the Lysimachia species were formerly in the Primulaceae (Primrose) family, but have been moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family.

Where to buy native seed and plants

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  • Prairie Restorations - Bringing people together with the land
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  • Out Back Nursery and Landscaping - Where Ecology and Horticulture Unite
  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds
  • Landscape Alternatives - Distinctive Native Plants since 1986!

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Heather in Big Willow Park, Minnetonka
on: 2011-06-10 14:27:04

Along the west trail at the edge of a wetland.

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