Lysimachia asperulifolia Poiret. Common name: Pocosin Loosestrife, ‘Roughleaf Loosestrife’. Phenology: May-Jun; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Low pocosins, high pocosins, streamhead pocosins, savanna-pocosin ecotones, sandhill-pocosin ecotones. Distribution: Endemic to the Coastal Plain of NC and SC.
ID notes: L. asperulifolia is a very distinctive species, easily recognized vegetatively by its whorls (or opposite on smaller plants) of sessile, rounded-based, acuminate, bluish-green (to yellowish-green when shaded or otherwise stressed) leaves on an unbranched stem 0.5-1 m in height. Young or depauperate plants may produce only opposite leaves and no flowers. When stems are injured or subjected to herbivory, they produce branches below the damaged site.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Franklin (2001) studied the biology of this rare species.
Other Comments: The leaves of L. asperulifolia are not rough; the common name ‘roughleaf loosestrife’ is a misnomer, based on a mistranslation of the specific epithet, the translator erroneously assuming that ‘asperulifolia’ meant ‘rough-leaved’. The epithet actually refers to the perceived similarity of the leaves to those of the European Asperula odorata (treated in this work as Galium odoratum), Sweet Woodruff, a plant with which Poiret would have been very familiar (the leaves of G. odoratum are similar to those of L. asperulifolia in their whorled disposition).
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA8; = Lysimachia asperulaefolia — GW2, RAB, S, S13, (orthographic variant). Basionym: Lysimachia asperulifolia Poir. 1814
Links to other floras: = Lysimachia asperulifolia - FNA8
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Lysimachia asperulifolia? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of low and high pocosins, streamhead pocosins, savanna-pocosin ecotones and sandhill-pocosin ecotones; often forms colonies,.
Stems: Stems slender, unbranched, smooth or with gland-tipped hairs in upper 1/3 of stem.
Leaves: Leaves in whorls of 3 (sometimes 4), sessile, lance-shaped with sharp tip, to about 1 1/2 in. long, dark green, with margins rolled slightly downward and with gland-tipped hairs toward the base and along veins.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers produced mostly following fires, in a terminal raceme to 4 in. long; each flower yellow, about 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5 spreading, lance-oval petals with pointy tips and gland-tipped hairs.
Fruits:
Comments: A federal Endangered species; endemic to North and South Carolina.
Height: 1-2 1/2 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of low and high pocosins, streamhead pocosins, savanna-pocosin ecotones and sandhill-pocosin ecotones; often forms colonies,.
stems: Stems slender, unbranched, smooth or with gland-tipped hairs in upper 1/3 of stem.
leaves: Leaves in whorls of 3 (sometimes 4), sessile, lance-shaped with sharp tip, to about 1 1/2 in. long, dark green, with margins rolled slightly downward and with gland-tipped hairs toward the base and along veins.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers produced mostly following fires, in a terminal raceme to 4 in. long; each flower yellow, about 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5 spreading, lance-oval petals with pointy tips and gland-tipped hairs.
fruits:
comments: A federal Endangered species; endemic to North and South Carolina.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: NC & SC
0 unsaved edits on this page.