SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lysimachia quadriflora
COMMON NAMES: Slender Yellow Loosetrife, Prairie Loosetrife, Four-flower Yellow Loosestrife, Linear Loosestrife, Narrowleaf Loosestrife, Whorled Loosestrife
BLOOM TIME: July, Aug
PLANT PROFILE:
- Erect 2 ½ in. tall ascending to hairless, green central stem; ¼ in. leaves.
- Tiny yellow flowers are ¼ to 1 ½ in. long, with 5 central slim lobes & there are 3-4 on ends of upper stems.
- Habitat: wet prairies & seepy river banks; found in high quality wetlands.
- Uncommon in central and northern Illinois.
- Long ago thought that plant had soothing powers over animals so people tied a branch to oxen yoke thinking it made them easier to handle.
- Known to repel gnats & keep snakes away.
INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:
- Flowers are cross-pollinated by oligolectic Melittid bees. These bees collect floral oil & pollen of flowers to make pollen balls they feed to their larvae.
- Loosestrife Bud Gall Midge larvae, sawfly, & Loosestrife Borer Moth larvae feed on the foliage, pith of stems, & other parts of loosestrife.
- No information is available about this plant's relationships to vertebrate animals.