Fraser's yellow loosestrife facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fraser's yellow loosestrife |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lysimachia
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| Species: |
fraseri
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Lysimachia fraseri is a special kind of flowering plant. It's often called Fraser's yellow loosestrife. This plant belongs to the primrose family. It grows naturally in the Southeastern United States. Because it's quite rare, it's listed as an endangered species in some states.
Contents
What is Fraser's Yellow Loosestrife?
Fraser's yellow loosestrife is a plant that comes back every year. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread. It can grow up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall. In very wet places, it might even grow taller.
Plant Features
- Stems: The plant has a thin, straight stem. This stem is covered in tiny hairs. These hairs have black tips, especially near the leaves.
- Leaves: The leaves grow in groups called whorls. Each whorl has 3 to 6 leaves. Lower down the stem, leaves grow in pairs. They are shaped like a spear or a narrow oval. Each leaf can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. They have small black dots and a thin, dark or reddish edge.
Flowers and Seeds
- Flower Clusters: The flowers grow in a long cluster. This cluster can be up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long. It holds many small flowers.
- Flowers: Each flower is just over a centimeter wide. It has five yellow, oval-shaped petals. These petals are flat. The green parts under the petals are called sepals. They are also dotted with glands and have red edges.
- Fruit: After flowering, the plant produces a small capsule. This capsule holds many brown seeds.
How to Identify It
Fraser's yellow loosestrife looks like other Lysimachia plants. But you can often tell it apart by its bright yellow petals. Also, the tiny hairs on its upper stem and leaves look grainy.
Where Does Fraser's Yellow Loosestrife Grow?
This plant likes to grow near water. You can find it on gravelly river banks or in ditches. It grows best in places that have been disturbed. This means areas where the ground has been cleared or changed.
Growth and Sunlight
The plant often grows in cycles. It might grow a lot in newly cleared areas. But then taller plants can grow and block its sunlight. When the plant gets lots of sun, it grows very strong. Plants that grow in shady spots often don't produce seeds.
Threats to the Plant
Fraser's yellow loosestrife needs sunlight to make seeds. Wildfires used to help clear areas, letting sunlight reach the plant. But now, people often stop wildfires. This allows too many tall plants to grow. These tall plants block the sun, which is a threat to the loosestrife.
This plant is named after a Scottish botanist. His name was John Fraser.
