Lysimachia thyrsiflora (Tufted Loosestrife)

Plant Info
Also known as: Water Loosestrife
Genus:Lysimachia
Family:Myrsinaceae (Myrsine)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; bogs, swamps, wet fields
Bloom season:May - July
Plant height:1 to 3 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 6-petals Cluster type: round

[photo of flowers] Flowers are in round clusters to 1½ inches long on hairy stems that arise from the leaf axils about midway up the plant. Individual flowers are yellow, about 1/3 inch across with 6 narrow petals and 6 long yellow stamens surrounding an orange center. One plant has a few to several flowers. There are no flowers at the top of the plant.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 5 inches long and ¾ inch wide, toothless, tapering to a pointed tip, and no leaf stem. There may be fine hairs along the mid-vein on the underside of a leaf. Attachment is opposite.

[photo of lower leaves] Leaves on the lower part of the plant are small and scale-like. The main stem is smooth towards the base of the plant but hariy on the upper part.

Notes:

The flowers are unique enough to make this plant pretty easy to identify. All of the Lysimachia species were formerly in the Primulaceae (Primrose) family, but have been moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family.

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Heather - Big Willow Park, Minnetonka
on: 2011-06-10 14:27:04

Along the west trail at the edge of a wetland.

Posted by: Mark - Oakdale Nature Preserve
on: 2012-05-27 18:27:31

In about six inches of water on the south shore of Mud Lake.

Posted by: Ann L - Todd County
on: 2017-06-17 17:32:38

I found this growing in a tamarack swamp in central Todd County.

Posted by: Stuart S - Cook County
on: 2017-06-27 14:38:33

C.R. 4...Caribou Trail...beside runoff creek culvert of Caribou Lake...

Posted by: Gary - Carlton
on: 2019-03-10 13:04:46

In a shrub carr/sedge meadow wetland.

Posted by: Mari Saxhaug - Murray county
on: 2019-06-12 15:33:58

Found lots of this growing in a park around a lake

Posted by: Sharon - NE Anoka County
on: 2019-06-23 09:53:50

Found it growing in my yard in an area of temporary standing water.

Posted by: LeAnn Plinske - Baxter
on: 2020-06-12 10:04:48

Found this plant currently blooming at Northland Arboretum in Brainerd.

Posted by: gregg mensing - Roseville mn
on: 2020-06-13 16:59:47

Along the boardwalk in acorn park . One of the few peat bogs in this area.

Posted by: Craig Blacklock - Moose Lake
on: 2021-06-17 19:01:55

6/17/2021 Just found perhaps a hundred of these blooming in a small black spruce, tamarack bog on our land 4 miles east of the city of Moose Lake, Carlton County, MN. We have a number of similar bogs in the area, so I would expect they are in those as well.

Posted by: Linda - Schaefer Prairie Nature Conservancy site - McCleod County
on: 2022-06-14 16:08:45

Saw lots of it 5-12-22.

Posted by: Darrick Wotachek - Maple Ridge Township
on: 2022-06-15 16:00:14

Found in type 3 wetland in Maple Ridge Township. I have seen this plant numerous times in 5 years in similar habitats in Isanti County.

Posted by: Pat W - Brainerd Arboretum
on: 2022-06-21 16:43:47

Growing at the Arboretum 6-21-2022 near Monet Pond. Very distinctive with the yellow tufts growing out of the leaf axils.

Posted by: Laura Dimler - Munger, MN
on: 2022-06-22 16:30:49

Found them in my new fields in a pretty swath.

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