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Lythrum alatum - (image 1 of 5)

Taxonomy

Family: Lythraceae

Habitat

Marshes, calcareous fens, alkaline springy areas.

Associates

In marshes with Asclepias incarnata, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex stricta, Thelypteris palustris, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Helenium autumnale, Lycopus americanus, Mentha arvensis villosa, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Scirpus pungens, Spartina punctinata.

Distribution

Morphology

Low herbaceous perennial. Leaves primarily alternate, or the middle and lower opposite or subopposite, less than 5 cm long. Flowers pink to purple, all or nearly all solitary in the leaf axils, less than 5 cm long; stamens usually fewer than 10.

Notes

Flowers early June to mid September.

Wetland indicator: Obligate

Not to be confused with the noxious weed L. salicaria (Purple Loosestrife). This little plant is a pussy cat.   

Bibliography

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

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