Purple Loosestrife

Loosestrife in flower - Alex Goudie Park

Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, is described as being endemic to Europe, Africa and the east coast of Australia – quite a cosmopolitan species. World-wide there are about 36 species of Lythrum. Australia has 5.

Loosestrife is common throughout Victoria except for the dry north-western areas. It is a purple, summer-flowering perennial herb that grows to 2+m in wet, boggy, swampy places. It spreads easily and in good conditions, can become invasive.

In winter, Purple Loosestrife dies back to brown stems. In spring it re-emerges from its root stock. It is a nectar/pollen rich plant that attracts a range of invertebrate pollinators. It is propagated and from time to time available in nurseries as a pond-bog species.

‘Lythrum’ means blood, in some references suggesting the flower colour (hardly blood-red?). Others suggest the plant was once used to limit the flow of blood from a wound. A more interesting story though is the origins of its common name ‘Loosestrife’: “It is said that King Lysimachus hung a sprig of Lythrum between two oxen who were fighting each other while yoked and pulling a cart. The plant seems to have calmed the two beasts, causing them to ‘lose their strife’ and hence giving the plant the common name of loosestrife.”  However, if that is agreed to be the origin then perhaps it should be Losestrife, not Loosestrife?