Invasive SpeciesPurple loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria
FOUND by goldendonkeyz12
2012-09-17
Baileyville, Maine
ID Questioned
Quality checked by Mrs. Mulcahy
Peer reviewed by smokeythebear
Field Notes
We are happy because we’re outside, the sun is shining and the nature surrounding us is so peaceful. We luckily found the plant we were looking for! The invasive plant called the Purple Loosestrife may be a very pretty plant, but it is not welcome around here because it is taking over and killing our native species! We see, hear, and smell so many different things. There are cars, plants, people, and insects. You can hear birds, cars, voices, and the sound of the trees’ leaves that are swaying in the wind. It smells like a candle that smells exactly a tree.We are surprised that we actually found the Purple Loosestrife. It took us about 45 minutes to find it.
A sketch of our study site.
Supporting Evidence
Photo of my evidence.
The leaves were 5 - 10cm long. They were fuzzy on the bottom and the top. They were also opposite and smooth.
Photo of my evidence.
The flower was dying because it is fall, but all of the flowers that were still alive were small and purple.
Photo of my evidence.
The stem was 2m tall and was covered with lots of little soft hairs. It was also kind of squared with many branches.
Species Observation: Species Looked For
Did you find it?: 
I think I found it
Scientific name:
Lythrum salicaria
Common name:
Purple loosestrife
Count of individuals: 
1-10
Coverage: 
Between 1/2 and 3/4
Reproduction: 
Flower (plants)
Sampling method: 
Quadrat (user-placement)
Photo of our sampling method.
Place Studied
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Map this species
Latitude: 
N 45.151133 °
Longitude: 
W -67.401736 °
Observation Site Information
A photo of our study site.
Habitat: 
Upland - Developed areas
Trip Information
Name:
Main Street Turnout
Trip date: 
Mon, 2012-09-17 08:00
Town or city: 
Baileyville, Maine
Type of investigation: 
Species and Habitat Survey
Ecosystem: 
Upland
Watershed: 
Saint Croix
Habitat Observations
Species diversity: 
36 different species
Evidence of vectors: 
Paved road
Walking trail
People
Tree canopy cover: 
Between 1/2 and 3/4
Soil moisture: 
Saturated

Comments

Submitted by flowerpower2012 on Sun, 2012-09-23 20:14.

good pictures

good pictures

Submitted by PurpleMonkeyz on Fri, 2012-09-21 14:13.

pictures

Good pictures and details.

Submitted by Invadors on Fri, 2012-09-21 13:49.

Nice pictures.

Nice pictures.

Submitted by stripedloopies12 on Fri, 2012-09-21 13:45.

I really like your field

I really like your field notes. You have really good pictures.

Submitted by lazylizards on Fri, 2012-09-21 13:43.

Awesome pictures! The flower

Awesome pictures! The flower looks great.

Submitted by Unknown on Fri, 2012-09-21 12:57.

Good Job!

Like your pictures. Like your details!

Submitted by Unknown on Fri, 2012-09-21 13:08.

We looked for Purple

We looked for Purple Loosestrife too, but were unsuccessful.

Submitted by gmri on Fri, 2012-09-21 13:56.

good news

That's REALLY good news that you didn't find purple loosestrife. Thanks for sharing your not-found!

Submitted by manyeyes on Fri, 2012-09-21 08:53.

flower power

Goldendonkeyz12,

Thanks for looking for invasive loosestrife!

Check out your flowers again. They're definitely the right pinky purple color to be purple loosestrife, BUT if you look more closely you'll see that they're not arranged on a stalk and they have too many petals to be purple loosestrife flowers.

We'll wait to see what the loosestrife expert has to say!

Submitted by Invadors on Fri, 2012-09-21 08:50.

Great pictures

Great pictures

Submitted by blackwalruses2012 on Fri, 2012-09-21 08:48.

Awesome. It was very

Awesome. It was very descriptive. I could actually hear the birds and cars and smell the scent of the candle. Written evidence was understanding.