loosestrife

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• purple loosestrife
• spiked loosestrife
• Purple-Loosestrife
• purple lythrum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lythrum salicaria var. glabricaule
• Lythrum salicaria f. rariflorum
• Lythrum argyi
• Chabraea vulgaris
• Salicaria spicata
• Lythrum salicaria f. albiflora
• Salicaria vulgaris
• Lythrum salicarium
• Lythrum salicaria var. vulgare
• Lythrum salicaria f. orgyalis
• Lythrum purshianum
• Lythrum salicaria var. anceps
• Lythrum salicaria f. caudatum
• Lythrum salicaria var. glabrum
• Lythrum salicaria var. mairei
• Lythrum salicaria var. tomentosum
• Lythrum palustre
• Lythrum salicaria f. tomentosum
• Lythrum salicaria f. gracile
• Lythrum pubescens
• Lythrum quadrifolium
• Lythrum propinquum
• Lythrum salicaria f. angustius
• Lythrum tomentosum
• Lythrum salicaria subsp. anceps
• Lythrum spiciforme
• Lythrum spicatum
• Lythrum altissimum
• Lythrum cashmerianum
• Lythrum cinereum
• Lythrum dubium
• Lythrum alternifolium
• Lythrum anceps
• Lythrum salicaria subf. anceps
• Lythrum salicaria var. pubescens
• Lythrum salicaria subvar. oblongum
• Lythrum salicaria f. glabrum
• Lythrum salicaria subvar. gracile
• Lythrum salicaria subvar. glabricaule
• Lythrum salicaria f. latius
• Lythron salicarium
• Lythrum coronense
• Lythrum salicaria var. angustifolium
• Lythrum salicaria var. gracile
• Lythrum salicaria f. alata
• Lythrum salicaria f. brevistyla
• Lythrum salicaria var. genuinum
• Lythrum salicaria f. longistyla
• Lythrum salicaria f. mediostyla
• Lythrum salicaria f. serratifolia
• Lythrum salicaria f. virescens
• Lythrum spicatum var. verticillatum
• Lythrum salicaria f. depauperatum
• Lythrum salicaria subvar. caudatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Myrtales, it is specifically positioned in the family Lythraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identification is completed by its designation in the genus Lythrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Lythrum salicaria, exhibits a specific presence across several regions of Northern Europe. In the Scandinavian peninsula, it can be found growing within the borders of Norway and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the island of Great Britain. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit the landscapes of Ireland. Finally, its range includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lythrum salicaria is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse, moisture-rich environments across a broad altitudinal gradient. This species is found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 400 m AMSL to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. It exhibits a high degree of habitat plasticity, colonizing a wide variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems including lakes, rivers, swamps, and shores. Additionally, it is frequently observed in wet meadows, shrubberies, and sandy areas, and can even extend its presence into disturbed landscapes such as crop fields.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

aquatic, crop fields, lakes, meadows: wet, rivers, sand, shores, shrubberies, swamps

Life history

The life history of Lythrum salicaria is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable periods. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lythrum salicaria is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber or vine. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial existence. The plant displays significant variation in its stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.854 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.854 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lythrum salicaria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate wetland species. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrient acquisition through its root system and soil interface. The leaf morphology reflects a highly variable architecture, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.7 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. The width of the leaves shows significant plasticity, with a minimum measurement of 0.3 cm and a maximum of 1.2 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 1.6 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of approximately 17.42375 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 271.1 cm²/g, a metric that provides insight into its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies regarding light interception and metabolic efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

1.7 cm

Leaf size mean:

17.42375 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.2 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

271.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lythrum salicaria is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This plant exhibits a flowering period that begins in June and extends through September. During the reproductive cycle, self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination. The resulting fruit is a dry, dehiscent capsule with an average length of 0.4 cm. The seeds produced are quite small, characterized by a mean length of 1 mm (ranging from a minimum to maximum of 1 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.0003822855 g, with individual seed masses varying from a minimum of 2e-05 g to a maximum of 0.00444 g. In terms of volume, the seeds range from a minimum of 0.061 mm³ to a maximum of 0.086 mm³, with a mean volume of 0.0735 mm³. Seed dispersal is achieved through two primary syndromes: hydrochorous (water-mediated) and epizoochorous (dispersal via attachment to animals), allowing the plant to colonize new habitats effectively. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00444 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0003822855 g

Seed mass min:

2e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.086 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.0735 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.061 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lythrum salicaria has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, stem.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Lythrum salicaria has 58 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Orientin, RUTIN, Tannin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Gallic acid.

Orientin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

RUTIN

1. Pharmaceutics
2. Natural product communications
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta biologica Hungarica
3. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Gallic acid

1. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice
2. Pharmaceutics

Tannins

1. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice
2. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Vescalagin

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Vitexin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

polyphenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product communications

quercetin

1. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice
2. Pharmaceutics

Activities

Lythrum salicaria has 199 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Antihyperglycemic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Astringent

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihyperglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Lythrum salicaria has 16 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include dysentery, Helicobacter pylori, bleeding, blood glucose, diarrhea.

Dysentery

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Acta biologica Hungarica

Helicobacter pylori

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Bleeding

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Blood glucose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Eczema

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastrointestinal motility

1. Natural product communications

Gums

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hemorrhages

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Lythrum salicaria has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and 40% ethanol extracts, ether extracts from flowers, ether extracts from stem, hydromethanolic extracts.

Aqueous and 40% ethanol extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ether extracts from flowers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ether extracts from stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydromethanolic extracts

1. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice