Thicket/ Garden Loosestrife

COMMON NAME: Garden Loosestrife

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Spotted Loosestrife

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lysimachia punctata

FAMILY: Primulaceae

COMMUNITY: Thicket

STATUS: Introduced from Eurasia  

LIFESPAN:

HEIGHT: 3 feet

FLOWERING TIME: June to September

FRUITING TIME:

DISTRIBUTION: New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the USA ~ Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean Counties in New Jersey

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Erect, rarely branched ~ Stoloniform rhizomes ~ Leaves mostly whorls of 3 or 4, occasionally opposite, lance shaped, to 4 inches long, uppermost leaves shorter ~ Flowers in axils, spreading, short tube-like, yellow or white, dots or lines

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family (Primulaceae) commonly called the Primrose family consists of 22 genera and 800 species of herbs and half-shrubs found chiefly in temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere and in tropical mountains.  Some species are ornamentals, including species of Primula and Cyclamen.  Most Cyclamens grown in pots are cultivars of Cyclamen persicum (“of Persia”).  The name Primrose is from the Middle English primerose, from Medieval Latin prim rosa (first rose). This genus of plants, (Lysimachia), took their name from a capacity to appease the strife and unruliness of oxen at the plough.  When these plants were placed on the yokes, the animals remain calm.  The name Lysimachia is derived from either lusimakhos, “ending strife” or Lysimakhos, king of Thrace. 

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.