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Lythrum salicaria

Species category

Flower, Weed

Common name

purple loosestrife

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

True seedTrue seed:
A mature fertilized ovule consisting of an embryo, with or without and external food reserve (e.g., endosperm) enclosed by the testa.

Shape

Irregularly obovateObovate:
Inverted egg shaped with apical end the broadest.

Size

  • Length 0.9–1.1 mm
  • Width 0.4–0.6 mm
  • Thickness 0.3–0.5 mm

Color

Brown

Texture

Rough

Other structures

HilumHilum:
The scar on the seed coat at the place of its detachment from the seed stalk (funiculus).
 is on pointed end.

Identification notes

Seeds are very irregular but generally widest at the end opposite the hilumHilum:
The scar on the seed coat at the place of its detachment from the seed stalk (funiculus).
. Seed surface tends to be glossy in spite of its rough outer texture.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio,  Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming

AOSA examination list

Not included

More information

For more information, see ISMA fact sheet.

Nomenclature

Family

Lythraceae

Valid name

Lythrum salicaria L.

Synonyms

Lythrum salicaria L. var. gracilior Turcz. 
Lythrum salicaria L. var. tomentosum (Mill.) DC.
Lythrum salicaria L. var. vulgare DC.

Lythrum salicaria. Seeds that are glossy despite their rough outer texture. 
Lythrum salicaria. Seeds that are glossy despite their rough outer texture.