Lysimachia quadrifolia (Whorled loosestrife)

Lysimachia quadrifolia L.

Whorled loosestrife, yellow whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Ericales	Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
Family	Primulaceae	Primrose family
Genus	Lysimachia	Named for Lysimachus, a king of ancient Sicily, who “calmed a mad ox” with a member of this species
Species	quadrifolia	“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: 12-36" (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:

Lysimachia quadrifolia on

Lysimachia quadrifolia on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Lysimachia quadrifolia at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Lysimachia quadrifolia on Wildflowers of the United States

6/19/2013 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

6/22/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

Young plants are often tinged red. · 6/2/2014 · Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 6" (15 × 14 cm)

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

6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
≈ 4 × 6" (11 × 14 cm)

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

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

Lysimachia quadrifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 14 Jul 2020.

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

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

7/17/2009 · Mt. Lebanon St. Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4" (14 × 10 cm)

6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 6" (13 × 15 cm)

6/22/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 24 cm)

6/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 5" (14 × 13 cm)

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

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine
≈ 5 × 7" (13 × 17 cm)

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

7/22/1987 · Camp, Sebago Lake, Maine

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

Range:

About this map...