Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria
These flowers were growing throughout a large meadow and were surely a pollinator's delight!
The stems have a variable amount of hairiness and are rounded or 4-sided in shape. The upper stems end in long spikes of flowers. Each flower is at least 15mm across, consisting of 6 purple petals, a green tubular calyx, 6+ stamens, and a pistil with a green stigma. Each petal has a dark purple line toward its base.
''Lythrum salicaria'' or purple-loosestrife is a flowering plant belonging to the family Lythraceae. It should not be confused with other plants sharing the name loosestrife that are members of the genus ''Lysimachia'' in the family Primulaceae. This herbaceous perennial plant is native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and eastern Australia.
