During flood events, it can survive by producing aerenchyma – a tissue that allows roots to exchange gases while submerged in water. Roots: The strong, persistent taproot becomes woody with age and stores nutrients which provide the plant with reserves of energy for spring or stressful periods. Flowers are pollinated by insects, mostly bumblebees and honeybees, which promotes cross-pollination between floral morphs. Populations contain three floral morphs that differ in style length and anther height, a condition known as tristyly. Flowering time is climate-dependent, but in Ontario, purple loosestrife typically flowers as early as June and sometimes continuing into October (mid-June to mid-September is typical). The petals appear wrinkly upon close inspection. Each flower is made up of 5-7 petals, each 7-10 mm long, surrounding a small, yellow centre. Leaves are green in summer but can turn bright red in autumn.įlowers: Very showy, deep pink to purple (occasionally light pink, rarely white) flowers are arranged in a dense terminal spike-like flower cluster. Leaf size, typically 3-12 cm long, will change to maximize light availability – leaf area increases and fine hairs decrease with lower light levels. Leaves are stalkless (attached directly to the stem), broad near the base and tapering towards the tip. Upper leaves and leaflets in the inflorescence are usually alternate (one per node) and smaller than the lower ones. Leaf arrangement is opposite (two per node) or sometimes whorled (three or more per node) along an angular stem. Leaves: Leaves are simple, narrow and lance-shaped or triangular, with smooth edges and fine hairs. New, actively-growing shoots are green, while older stems are reddish to brown or purplish in colour. The form of the stems is somewhat branched, smooth or finely hairy, with evenly-spaced nodes and short, slender branches. Stems are woody, stiff, and square-shaped, with 4-6 sides. Stems: Annual stems arise from a perennating rootstock (underground organ which stores energy and nutrients in order to help the plant survive over winter and produce a new plant in spring). The plant mass grows on average to be 60-120 cm tall, although some plants may grow over 2 m tall and form crowns of up to 1.5 m in diameter. Size and shape: Plants average 1-15 flowering stems, although a single rootstock can produce 30-50 erect stems. These size and life cycle differences should be taken into account when identifying the plant and choosing a management option specific to your region (Purple Loosestrife BMP). Plants in northern regions are smaller and flower earlier than those in southern regions. Purple loosestrife has evolved to tolerate the shorter growing season and colder weather of the central and northern parts of the provinces.
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