Cut Flower Exports of Africa    
Home Start key Fact sheets Glossary Common flowers    

Lysimachia L.

Primulaceae

  Lysimachia sp.: stem  
Common names

loosestrife

Species cultivated

Most commonly cultivated

Lysimachia clethroides Duby

Other species

L. ephemerum L.

L. punctata L.

L. purpurea Steud.2

L. vulgaris L.

Origin

Europe, Asia.

Brief characterization

Stems with simple, ovate or elliptic to linear-lanceolate, entire leaves and usually terminal, pendent racemes of star-shaped flowers; 5 or sometimes 6-lobed calyx; rotate, 5 or sometimes 6- or 7-lobed corolla; stamens usually 5, fused to corolla tube; style stout.

Cultivar and/or species variation

Few cultivars, if any.

Lysimachia clethroides: leaves alternate; inflorescence a terminal, pendent raceme 10-20 cm long; flowers on long pedicels; calyx lobes white-margined; corolla to 1.5 cm across, white.

L. ephemerum: leaves opposite; inflorescence a terminal, upright raceme to 40 cm long; calyx lobes white-margined; corolla to 1 cm across, white.

L. punctata: leaves opposite or whorled; flowers clustered in leaf axils; pedicels short; calyx lobes uniformly green, fringed with hairs; corolla to 2.5 cm across, yellow.

L. purpurea: flowers purple.

L. vulgaris: leaves opposite or whorled; inflorescence a leafy, terminal, clustered panicle; calyx lobes red-margined; corolla to 1 cm across, yellow.

May be confused with

Eremurus, Veronica

Countries exporting

Kenya, Zimbabwe.

Lysimachia sp.: inflorescence


 
Lysimachia sp.: flower, face (left), calyx (right)

Lysimachia clethroides
Photo: © George Whiting, Temple University

Lysimachia punctata
Photo: © Henriette Kress <http://www.henriettesherbal.com/>

Lysimachia punctata: flowers
Photo: © George Whiting, Temple University
 top