Lysimachia thyrsiflora (Tufted Loosestrife)
| 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 |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/tufted-loosestrife_0603_165810.jpg)
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:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/tufted-loosestrife_0603_165959.jpg)
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]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/tufted-loosestrife_0603_170024.jpg)
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.
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More photos
Tufted Loosestrife plant
Tufted Loosestrife in shallow waterPhotos 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?
on: 2011-06-10 14:27:04
Along the west trail at the edge of a wetland.
on: 2012-05-27 18:27:31
In about six inches of water on the south shore of Mud Lake.
on: 2017-06-17 17:32:38
I found this growing in a tamarack swamp in central Todd County.
on: 2017-06-27 14:38:33
C.R. 4...Caribou Trail...beside runoff creek culvert of Caribou Lake...
on: 2019-03-10 13:04:46
In a shrub carr/sedge meadow wetland.
on: 2019-06-12 15:33:58
Found lots of this growing in a park around a lake
on: 2019-06-23 09:53:50
Found it growing in my yard in an area of temporary standing water.
on: 2020-06-12 10:04:48
Found this plant currently blooming at Northland Arboretum in Brainerd.
on: 2020-06-13 16:59:47
Along the boardwalk in acorn park . One of the few peat bogs in this area.
on: 2021-06-17 19:01:55
6/17/2021 Just found perhaps a hundred of these blooming in a small black spruce, tamarack bog on our land 4 miles east of the city of Moose Lake, Carlton County, MN. We have a number of similar bogs in the area, so I would expect they are in those as well.
on: 2022-06-14 16:08:45
Saw lots of it 5-12-22.
on: 2022-06-15 16:00:14
Found in type 3 wetland in Maple Ridge Township. I have seen this plant numerous times in 5 years in similar habitats in Isanti County.
on: 2022-06-21 16:43:47
Growing at the Arboretum 6-21-2022 near Monet Pond. Very distinctive with the yellow tufts growing out of the leaf axils.
on: 2022-06-22 16:30:49
Found them in my new fields in a pretty swath.