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: 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
6/19/2013 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
6/22/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
Young plants are often tinged red. · 6/2/2014 · Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 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
6/18/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts
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.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
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 · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
5/8/2021 · Devil’s Back Trail, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
6/22/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
6/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
10/18/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
6/18/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts
7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 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:
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