Yellow Loosestrife

Lysimachia vulgaris capsules and seeds

Lysimachia vulgaris, the yellow loosestrife or garden loosestrife, is a species of herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It was transferred to Myrsinoideae based on results of molecular phylogenetic research^[2][3] before being merged into the Primulaceae. ^[4]

Description

Yellow loosestrife is a tall downy semi-evergreen perennial plant with an upright habit, 50–150 centimetres (20–59 in) high, with erect panicles of conspicuous yellow flowers.^[5]: 519 The edges of the petals lack the fringe of hairs seen in L. punctata, and the hairy, narrow triangular sepals have a conspicuous orange margin. ^[6]: 114 It flowers from June through August in the British Isles. Measuring 5 - 12 cm long, the entire-margined leaves are opposite or 3-4-whorled, ovate to lanceolate and spotted with translucent orange glands.

The stem is round or square in cross-section, downy, and usually solid and pith-filled^[7]

Etymology

The generic name Lysimachia means ‘ending strife’, derived from Lysimachus, a King of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon, also an army leader under Alexander the Great. The specific epithet vulgaris means common, or usual^[8]

Habitat, distribution and ecology

L. vulgaris is native to Britain, where it is frequent to locally common, as well as Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to North America, where it is considered an exotic introduction, for its ornamental value in gardens. It grows best in moist habitats such as fens and wet woodlands as well as on lakesides and riverbanks.

Like many of its congeners, L. vulgaris provides an important nectar source for specialist solitary bees in the genus Macropis, especially Macropis europaea.^[9] However, the relationship between Lysimachia and Macropis is not thought to be obligate on the part of the plant.^[10]

For the first time, a plant pathogen Ramularia lysimachiae Thün was found on the plant in County Durham in 2004.^[11]

L. vulgaris has been listed as a noxious weed in Washington State on account of its invasiveness. Although the seeds only appear to have a maximum viability of 3 years when stored in the soil, the plant can spread by vegetative means from rhizomes over extensive areas, sometimes to the detriment of other species.^[12] It remains in a vegetative state for some years before blooming, so that flowering stands of the plant indicate that it has long been present in that area.^[13]

L. vulgaris is an unpalatable species that is avoided by large herbivores due to its content of toxic compounds.^[14]

In use

Like many other plants in the genus Lysimachia, yellow loosestrife has historically been valued for its medicinal properties and is still sometimes used today in traditional folk medicine by some eastern cultures. It has been used as an effective anti-inflammatory agent as well as for treating fever, wounds, ulcers, and diarrhoea.^[15] It also has analgesic, astringent, and expectorant properties.^[16]

Yellow loosestrife growing in Sweden.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lysimachia vulgaris.