Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria is an herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the Lythraceae family. It should not be confused with other plants in the genus Lysimachia that also bear the name loosestrife. The plant is native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and eastern Australia. It has been documented in various locations, including Newfoundland, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as well as in parts of Europe and Africa. The species was treated as the generitype by Britton & Brown, but under the Vienna Code, it has been replaced by Green's choice of L. hyssopifolia L.