Lysimachia vulgaris
| Lysimachia vulgaris | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Primulaceae |
| Genus: | Lysimachia |
| Species: | L. vulgaris
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| Binomial name | |
| Lysimachia vulgaris | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Lysimachia vulgaris, the yellow loosestrife or garden loosestrife, is a species of herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It was transferred to Myrsinoideae based on results of molecular phylogenetic research[2][3] before being merged into the Primulaceae. [4]
Description[edit]
Yellow loosestrife is a tall downy semi-evergreen perennial plant with an upright habit, 50–150 centimetres (20–59 in) high, with erect panicles of conspicuous yellow flowers.[5]: 519 The edges of the petals lack the fringe of hairs seen in L. punctata, and the hairy, narrow triangular sepals have a conspicuous orange margin. [6]: 114 It flowers from June through August in the British Isles. Measuring 5 - 12 cm long, the entire-margined leaves are opposite or 3-4-whorled, ovate to lanceolate and spotted with translucent orange glands.
The stem is round or square in cross-section, downy, and usually solid and pith-filled[7]
Etymology[edit]
The generic name Lysimachia means ‘ending strife’, derived from Lysimachus, a King of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon, also an army leader under Alexander the Great. The specific epithet vulgaris means common, or usual[8]
Habitat, distribution and ecology[edit]
L. vulgaris is native to Eurasia, as far West as Ireland where it is frequent to locally common, and North Africa. It has been introduced to North America, where it is considered an exotic introduction, for its ornamental value in gardens. It grows best in moist habitats such as fens and wet woodlands as well as on lakesides and riverbanks.
Like many of its congeners, L. vulgaris provides an important nectar source for specialist solitary bees in the genus Macropis, especially Macropis europaea.[9] However, the relationship between Lysimachia and Macropis is not thought to be obligate on the part of the plant.[10]
For the first time, a plant pathogen Ramularia lysimachiae Thün was found on the plant in County Durham in 2004.[11]
L. vulgaris has been listed as a noxious weed in Washington State on account of its invasiveness. Although the seeds only appear to have a maximum viability of 3 years when stored in the soil, the plant can spread by vegetative means from rhizomes over extensive areas, sometimes to the detriment of other species.[12] It remains in a vegetative state for some years before blooming, so that flowering stands of the plant indicate that it has long been present in that area.[13]
L. vulgaris is an unpalatable species that is avoided by large herbivores due to its content of toxic compounds.[14]
In use[edit]
Like many other plants in the genus Lysimachia, yellow loosestrife has historically been valued for its medicinal properties and is still sometimes used today in traditional folk medicine by some eastern cultures. It has been used as an effective anti-inflammatory agent as well as for treating fever, wounds, ulcers, and diarrhoea.[15] It also has analgesic, astringent, and expectorant properties.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 25 June 2015.
- ^ Hao G, Yuan YM, Hu CM, Ge XJ, Zhao NX. 2004. Molecular phylogeny of Lysimachia (Myrsinaceae) based on chloroplast trnL-F and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 31(1): 323-339.
- ^ Oh IC, Anderberg AL, Schonenberg J, Anderberg AA. 2008. Comparative seed morphology and character evolution in the genus Lysimachia (Myrsinaceae) and related taxa. Plant Syst. Evol. 271 (3-4): 177 - 197.
- ^ Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III. 2009. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III (2009). "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 161 (2): 105–121. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x.
- ^ Stace, C. A. (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521707725.
- ^ Blamey, M.; Fitter, R.; Fitter, A (2003). Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora. London: A & C Black. ISBN 978-1408179505.
- ^ Poland J, Clement EJ. 2020. The Vegetative Key to the British Flora. John Poland, Southampton ISBN 9780956014429
- ^ Gledhill D. 1985. The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521366755
- ^ Garbuzov M, Ratnieks FLW. 2014. Listmania: The strengths and weaknesses of lists of garden plants to help pollinators. Bioscience 64 (11)
- ^ Popov VV. 1958. Special features of the correlated evolution of Macropsis epeloides (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) and Lysimachia (Primulaceae). Entomological Reviews 37: 433 – 451
- ^ Legg AW. 2004. Ramularia lysimachiae Thüm on Lysimachia vulgaris - a new plant-fungus association for Great Britain, found in County Durham. Vasculum 89(3)
- ^ DiTomaso JM, Kyser GB, Oneto SR, Wilson RG, Orloff SB, Anderson LW, Wright SD, Roncoroni, JA, Miller TL, Prather TS, Ransom C. 2013. Weed control in natural areas in the western United States. Weed Research and Information Center, University of California, 544.
- ^ Cusick AW. 1986. Distributional and taxonomic notes on the vascular flora of West Virginia. Castanea 51 (1): 56 – 65.
- ^ Bossuyt B, de Fré B, Hoffman M. 2005. Abundance and flowering success patterns in a short-term grazed grassland: early evidence of facilitation. Journal of Ecology 93(6): 1104—1114.
- ^ Podolak I, Elas M, Cieszka. 1998. In vitro antifungal and cytotoxic activity of triterpene saponosides and quinoid pigments from Lysimachia vulgaris L. Phytotherapy Research 12: S70–S73.
- ^ Yildirim AB , Guner B, Karakas FP , Turker AU. 2017. Evaluation of antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant activities and phenolic constituents of field-grown and in-vitro-grown Lysimachia vulgaris L. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 14(2): 177 – 187.