Lythrum
Lythrum is a genus of 38 species of flowering plants native to the temperate world. Commonly known as loosestrife, they are among 32 genera of the family Lythraceae.
Description
They are herbaceous annuals or perennials. Typically they have square stems, narrow stalkless leaves, and spikes of star-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink and white. They are especially associated with boggy areas, river banks and ponds, though in cultivation they often tolerate drier conditions. The species L. salicaria and L. virgatum are found in cultivation.Selected species
Species include:- Lythrum alatum Pursh - winged lythrum
- Lythrum anceps Makino - misohagi
- Lythrum californicum Torr. & A.Gray - California loosestrife
- Lythrum curtissii Fernald - Curtiss' loosestrife
- Lythrum flagellare Shuttlw. ex Chapm. - Florida loosestrife
- Lythrum hyssopifolia L. - hyssop loosestrife, grass-poly
- Lythrum junceum Banks & Sol. - false grass-poly
- Lythrum lineare L. - wand lythrum
- Lythrum maritimum Kunth - pūkāmole
- Lythrum ovalifolium Koehne - low loosestrife
- Lythrum paradoxum
- Lythrum portula D.A.Webb - spatulaleaf loosestrife, water purslane
- Lythrum salicaria L. - purple loosestrife
- Lythrum thymifolia L. - thymeleaf loosestrife
- Lythrum tribracteatum Salzm. ex Spreng. - threebract loosestrife
- Lythrum virgatum L. - European wand loosestrife
- Lythrum wilsonii Hewson - Wilson's loosestrife
Formerly placed here
- Cuphea carthagenensis J.F.Macbr.
- Cuphea melanium R.Br. ex Steud.
- Cuphea parsonsia R.Br. ex Steud.
- Cuphea racemosa subsp. racemosa
- Cuphea viscosissima Jacq.
- Pleurophora anomala Koehne
- Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz
Morphology