Species:
Lythrum salicaria
Common Name:
purple loosestrife
Systems Affected (standardized):
riparian/aquatic
Regions(s) present (updated by AB):
NE, SE
Impacts:
a serious invader of many types of wetlands. It can quickly form dense stands that completely dominate the area excluding native vegetation. This plant can spread very rapidly due to its prolific seed production; each plant can produce up to 2.5 million seeds per year. It can also hybridize with native loosestrife species, potentially depleting the native species gene pool.
Source? likely to be reintroduced:
Original introductions were accidental, with seed as a contaminant of ballast water, wool and/or live sheep, and these could still be pathways for introduction of this invasive plant elsewhere. Also, commercial nurseries sell cultivars of L. salicaria advertized as being sterile, although research has shown that these cultivars are fertile both when crossed with themselves and with wild L. salicaria populations. can still be bought from numerous suppliers of ornamental plant seed
Info Blurb:
Can quickly form dense stands that completely dominate the area excluding native vegetation. Can spread very rapidly due to its prolific seed production. Can also hybridize with native loosestrife species, potentially depleting the native species’ gene pool.
Original introductions were accidental as a seed contaminant. Sold as an ornamental.
Native Regions in OK:
NONE
Current and past designations:
OWL
Present in OK?
Yes
Present in Bordering States?
TX, NM, CO, KS, MO, LA
Has Legal Status in BS?
AR NW, CO List A, NM Class A, MO NW, TX NP