Lythraceae
Loosestrife Family
Wing-angled loosestrife
Lythrum alatum Pursh
- Stem: perennial; 2’ to 3’ tall; many ascending branches on the upper half; four-angled (winged); smooth.
- Leaves: alternate; oval with rounded bases and pointed tips; 1 1/4” by 3/8” and smaller above; sessile; smooth above and below.
- Inflorescence: single flowers in axils of leafy bracts.
- Flowers: petals (6) blue to purple, 3/16” long; sepals linear, 1/32” long; both sepals and petals attached at the top of the narrow floral tube, 3/16” long; flowering from late June to late July with some flowering continuing into late August.
- Fruits: capsule developing within the floral tube; fruiting begins in early July.
- Habitat: common in marshy, open places; also on wet prairies; less common in northern Iowa.
- Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
- Vascular Plants of Iowa
Can be found in these counties:
