Lysimachia quadrifolia Linnaeus. Common name: Whorled Loosestrife. Phenology: May-Aug; Aug-Oct. Habitat: A wide variety of forests and openings, including pine savannas of the outer Coastal Plain, ranging from moist to very dry. Distribution: ME west to WI and MN, south to SC, c. GA, AL, and TN.
ID notes: Although the species normally has whorled leaves, immature and small plants often have opposite leaves only. See L. fraseri for discussion of vegetative features useful in distinguishing the two species.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: L. ×radfordii H.E. Ahles, a hybrid of L. loomisii × quadrifolia, is morphologically intermediate between its parents.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA8, G, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV. Basionym: Lysimachia quadrifolia L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Lysimachia quadrifolia - FNA8
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Alan Cressler: Lysimachia quadrifolia, Blue Ridge Parkway, near Mt. Jefferson Overlook, Ashe County, North Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of a wide variety of forests and openings, including pine savannas of the outer Coastal Plain, ranging from moist to very dry.
Stems: Stems stout to slender, rarely branched, hairy.
Leaves: Leaves in whorls of 4-5 (can be 2-7), sessile or short-petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, 1 1/2-4 in. long, with fringed-hairy margins and minute black dots on upper surface.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers nodding on slender stalks from leaf axils, 4-5 per node and held just above leaves; yellow; about 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 5 sharply pointed, oval petals streaked with black and red at the base, and slightly shorter, linear-lance-shaped sepals that are green with black dots/streaks.
Fruits: Fruit a round to oval capsule.
Comments:
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of a wide variety of forests and openings, including pine savannas of the outer Coastal Plain, ranging from moist to very dry.
stems: Stems stout to slender, rarely branched, hairy.
leaves: Leaves in whorls of 4-5 (can be 2-7), sessile or short-petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, 1 1/2-4 in. long, with fringed-hairy margins and minute black dots on upper surface.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers nodding on slender stalks from leaf axils, 4-5 per node and held just above leaves; yellow; about 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 5 sharply pointed, oval petals streaked with black and red at the base, and slightly shorter, linear-lance-shaped sepals that are green with black dots/streaks.
fruits: Fruit a round to oval capsule.
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cultural notes:
germination code:
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