California loosestrife facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California loosestrife |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lythrum
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| Species: |
californicum
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The California loosestrife (scientific name: Lythrum californicum) is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the loosestrife family. You can find this plant growing naturally in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Its range extends into the Midwest, reaching as far east as Oklahoma and Texas.
This plant loves wet places. It often grows in moist areas like near streams or in damp meadows.
Contents
What Does California Loosestrife Look Like?
The California loosestrife is a plant that lives for many years. It grows upright, usually reaching about 20 to 60 centimeters (8 to 24 inches) tall. Sometimes, its stems might branch out.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves of this plant are a bit waxy. They are shaped like a narrow spear or a line. Lower down on the plant, the leaves grow in pairs directly opposite each other. Higher up, they grow one after another along the stem. Each leaf is usually about 1 to 7 centimeters (0.4 to 2.8 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the California loosestrife grow in a tall spike at the very top of the plant. Each flower has small purple petals. These petals are less than a centimeter (0.4 inches) long.
Interestingly, the flowers on one plant can be different. Some flowers have a long, sticking-out part called a style. Others have a shorter style that stays hidden inside the flower. After the flowers bloom, they turn into small, oval-shaped fruits. These fruits are like tiny capsules. Inside each capsule, there are many very small seeds.
Is California Loosestrife a Weed?
The California loosestrife looks a lot like another plant called purple loosestrife. Purple loosestrife is known as a harmful noxious weed. This means it can grow too much and take over natural areas.
However, the California loosestrife is different. Even though they are related, the California loosestrife usually does not cause problems. It is not considered a harmful weed like its cousin.
