Invasive Species

Invasive Plants

The purple loose strife was introduced in the United States through European immigration in the 1890’s and made the wet lands of North America its new home. Although it has some ornamental and medicinal uses (cure diarrhea, dysentery), it is threatening to the natives of the wetlands of North America and it targets both the fauna and the flora. The purple loose strife impedes the natural floods of the wetlands and in some cases it even stops the flow of water causing the death of the native plants that are indispensable for the survivals of herbivorous species of those areas. Purple loosestrife enjoys an extended flowering season, generally from June to September, which allows it to produce vast quantities of seed. The flowers require pollination by insects, for which it supplies an abundant source of nectar. A mature plant may have as many as thirty flowering stems capable of producing an estimated two to three million, minute seeds per year. Until now, there are no effective ways of reducing the threat of the purple loose strife other than the use of pesticides which ends up harming the soil. 

Sources:  http://www.invasiveplants.net/plants/purpleloosestrife.htm