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Lysimachia quadrifolia L.

Whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderEricalesTea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
FamilyPrimulaceaePrimrose family
GenusLysimachiaNamed for Lysimachus, a king of ancient Sicily, who “calmed a mad ox” with a member of this species
Speciesquadrifolia“Four-leaved”

About plant names...

Whorled loosestrife is a North American native. The genus Lysimachia recognizes a Greek general and king of ancient Thrace (Sicily), Lysimachus. He is said to have calmed a maddened bull using a plant from this genus. The species quadrifolia simply means "four leaves," since each whorl of leaves in this plant most often consists of four leaves.

Plants: 1-3′ (30-91 cm) in height, with a smooth, erect stem that is rarely branched.

Leaves: In whorls around the stem, like spokes in a wheel. Each whorl contains 3-7 leaves, usually 4. Leaves are roughly oval, narrow, with sharp tips and hairy underneath.

Flowers: Starlike, with five pointed yellow petals, and a red spot in the center. The flowers are also in whorls, on long petioles arising from the same points where the leaves emerge from the stem. Each flower is ⅜-½″ (9.5-12 mm) in diameter. They bloom in June and July.

Online References:

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wildflowers of the United States

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/19/2013 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/22/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

Young plants are often tinged red. · 6/2/2014 · Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/14/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/18/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/18/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/19/2013 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)

 

Lysimachia quadrifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.

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Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

7/17/2009 · Mt. Lebanon St. Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

5/8/2021 · Devil’s Back Trail, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/22/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

10/18/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/18/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

7/22/1987 · Camp, Sebago Lake, Maine

Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife)

6/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm)

Range:

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