LOOSESTRIFE
Eco-gardening is at its best in The Monday Garden
October 26, 2003, issue 83
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria ) lines the banks of the Mill River and just about every other water way in the USA mainland and a good part of Canada.
Here it is turning red in the fall; note the brown seed scapes, which will last through the winter. Sources agree that this member of the loosestrife family was imported into northeastern USA and Canada in the 1800's from Eurasia for ornamental and medical purposes.
While loosestrife apparently does have medical value, reportedly including for relief of symptoms of Crohn's disease, this lover of wet and sun is a hazard to wetlands. Once imported, loosestrife ran riot in short order, crowding out many other species, including rare ones.