lythrum loosestrifes

genus Lythrum

Member of lythrum family (family Lythraceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

1–2 flowers per axil

california loosestrife
Lythrum californicum

stem erect, many branches distal to the base
petals purple
rare

false grass-poly
Lythrum junceum

false grass-poly
Lythrum junceum

sprawling, many branches distal to the base
petals purple with white at the base
hypanthia purple-spotted
newly identified in the bay area (abstract) “Previous collections, dating to at least 1905, were misidentified as L. californicum, but differ in their sprawling habit, white-based petals, and purple-spotted hypanthia.”

hyssop loosestrife
Lythrum hyssopifolia

hyssop loosestrife
Lythrum hyssopifolia

branches mostly at base, with no more than a few distal to the base
petals ± pale purple
hypanthium 4–5 × longer than wide
epicalyx lobes ± 2 × longer than sepals
common

three-bracted loosestrife
Lythrum tribracteatum

branches mostly at base, with no more than a few distal to the base
petals pale purple
hypanthium 8–10 × longer than wide
epicalyx lobes ± = sepals
very rare

> 2 flowers per axil

purple loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria

rare

2 observed taxons / 3 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 8 (4 are research grade)

Locations:

Ed R. Levin CP: 2
Murray Ranch SP: 2
Coyote Hills RP
Long Ridge OSP
Mission Peak RP
Stevens Creek CP

Months:

Jun.: 1
Jul.: 5
Aug.: 2

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora