Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A perennial plant (Lythrum salicaria) native to Eurasia, having long spikes of purple flowers. It is naturalized in North America and often forms dense stands in wetlands.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun a
semi-aquatic herbaceous plant , Lythrum salicaria, having long spikes of purple flowers
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun marsh herb with a long spike of purple flowers; originally of Europe but now rampant in eastern United States
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oroboros commented on the word purple loosestrife
August 7, 2011
biocon commented on the word purple loosestrife
Yes, indeed. One of the most tenacious and noxious invasive species.
Good visuals.
August 7, 2011
yarb commented on the word purple loosestrife
If you're knowledgeable about invasive species, biocon, I'd love to see a list of them (non-scientific names preferred).
August 8, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word purple loosestrife
Biocon, I'd like to see that list, too. Bilby has a great list with cane toads on it, but there's always room for more lists that aren't specific to Australia.
August 8, 2011
bilby commented on the word purple loosestrife
My list is for flora/fauna non grata in Australia. I don't think we have a problem with pureple loosestrife. Yet.
August 8, 2011
biocon commented on the word purple loosestrife
Would a list of invasive species of North America be okay or would you like it to be broader in scope?
Bilby has produced an extensive list of invasive species of Australia.
The most notorious invasive species of Australia is the European Rabbit [Oryctolagus cuniculus), which was reportedly initially introduced there in 1859 for hunting. Its populations became prodigious in certain regions including Tasmania. In 1950, myxomatosis, a disease caused by Myxoma virus was introduced in Australia to control the huge national population of rabbits. The population was reduced from an estimated 600 million to ≈100 million. European Rabbits eventually became resistant to the disease and partially rebounded numerically. in 1991, their number in Australia was estimated to be 200-300 million. This voracious herbivore has expunged multiple species of plants in Australia and its diet has resulted in elevated erosion there.
August 8, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word purple loosestrife
Yes--both. Some of my favorite lists are the personal, specific ones, but I'm also quite fond of the far-reaching ones.
August 9, 2011
yarb commented on the word purple loosestrife
Either or both. I've been seeing a ton of Giant Hogweed by the roads lately.
August 9, 2011
momcat commented on the word purple loosestrife
I knew a Brit who called purple loosestrife "bishop's curse"
August 10, 2011