''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally

classified Classified may refer to: General *Classified information, material that a government body deems to be sensitive *Classified advertising or "classifieds" Music *Classified (rapper) (born 1977), Canadian rapper *The Classified, a 1980s American roc ...

in the family Primulaceae. Based on a

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was later merged into the Primulaceae.

Characteristics

''Lysimachia'' species often have yellow flowers, and grow vigorously. They tend to grow in damp conditions. Several species within ''Lysimachia'' are commonly called loosestrife, although this name is also used for plants within the genus '' Lythrum''. The genus is named in honor of Lysimachus, a king of ancient Sicily, who is said to have calmed a mad ox by feeding it a member of the genus. ''Lysimachia'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some butterflies and moths, including the dot moth, grey pug, lime-speck pug, small angle shades, and v-pug.

Specialized pollinators

Bees of the genus '' Macropis'' are specialized to pollinate oil-producing ''Lysimachia'' plants. These bees use exclusively ''Lysimachia'' floral oils for building their nests and provisioning cells. ''Lysimachia'' floral-specific chemicals are strong attractors for ''

Macropis nuda ''Macropis nuda'' is a ground nesting, univoltine bee native to northern parts of North America. Thus, this species cocoons as pupae and hibernates over the winter. The species is unusual as it is an oligolectic bee, foraging exclusively for flor ...

'' and ''

Macropis fulvipes ''Macropis'' is a genus of bees in the family Melittidae. Description ''Macropis'' species are of moderate size, not exceeding 15 mm. They have a livery predominantly black; males are characterized by conspicuous yellow markings on the hea ...

'' bees that are seldom found in other plant genera. Lysimachia punctata spotted loosestrife MN 2007

Fossil record

Several fossil seeds of ''Lysimachia '' sp. have been described from

middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma to 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma (million y ...

strata In geology and related fields, a stratum ( : strata) is a layer of rock or sediment characterized by certain lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by visible surfaces known as ei ...

of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark. †''Lysimachia nikitinii'' seed

fossils A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved in ...

have been collected from Pliocene

of south eastern Belarus. The fossils are most similar to seeds of the

East Asian East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea a ...

Lysimachia davurica ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally Taxonomy (biology), classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a Molecular phylogeny, molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the f ...

''.The Pliocene flora of Kholmech, south-eastern Belarus and its correlation with other Pliocene floras of Europe by Felix Yu. VELICHKEVICH and Ewa ZASTAWNIAK - Acta Palaeobotanica 43(2): 137–259, 2003

Selected species

*''

Lysimachia arvensis ''Anagallis arvensis'' ( syn. ''Lysimachia arvensis''), commonly known as the scarlet pimpernel, red pimpernel, red chickweed, poor man's barometer, poor man's weather-glass, shepherd's weather glass or shepherd's clock, is a species of low-gr ...

'' L. - Scarlet pimpernel *''

Lysimachia asperulifolia ''Lysimachia asperulifolia'' ( orth. var. ''L. asperulaefolia'') is a rare species of flowering plant in the Primulaceae known by the common name rough-leaved loosestrife and roughleaf yellow loosestrife. It is endemic to the Atlantic coastal pla ...

'', orth. var. ''L. asperulaefolia'' - roughleaf yellow loosestrife (endemic to Atlantic coastal plain in North and South Carolina) *''

Lysimachia atropurpurea ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family wa ...

'' - purple gooseneck loosestrife *''

Lysimachia azorica ''Lysimachia azorica'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the Azores, Portugal and is commonly found in woods, shrubland, forest plantations, embankments, roadsides and paths, in ''Sphagnum'' formations, a ...

'' Hornem. ex Hook. - (endemic to the Azores) *''

Lysimachia barystachys ''Lysimachia barystachys'', the Manchurian yellow loosestrife, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is widely distributed in northern, eastern and central China, Far Eastern Russia, the Korean Peninsula and Japan, and has ...

'' Bunge - Manchurian yellow loosestrife *'' Lysimachia ciliata'' L. - fringed loosestrife (North America) *''

Lysimachia clethroides ''Lysimachia clethroides'', the gooseneck loosestrife, is a species of flowering plant, traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. It was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae based on a molecular phylogenetic study, but this family w ...

'' - gooseneck loosestrife * ''Lysimachia'' × ''commixta'' , a hybrid of ''L. terrestris'' and ''L. thyrsiflora'' * ''

Lysimachia congestiflora ''Lysimachia congestiflora'', known as golden globes loosestrife or creeping Jenny, is a flowering plant species in the primrose family that native to southeast Asia. Description It is an aboveground perennial and a herbaceous, stolon-former pl ...

'' *''

Lysimachia daphnoides ''Lysimachia daphnoides'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Primulaceae known by several common names, including Pacific loosestrife,Kauai Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...

in Hawaii) *''

Lysimachia filifolia ''Lysimachia filifolia'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Primulaceae known by the common name Wailua River yellow loosestrife. It is endemic to Hawaii, where there are two populations on Oahu and one on Kauai. It is a federally liste ...

'' C.N.Forbes (Islands of Oahu and Kauai in Hawaii) *''

Lysimachia foenum-graecum ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family w ...

'' Hance *''

Lysimachia fraseri ''Lysimachia fraseri'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Primulaceae, primrose family known by the common name Fraser's yellow loosestrife. It is native to the Southeastern United States, where it is listed as an endangered species in s ...

'' Duby - Fraser's yellow loosestrife (Southeastern United States) *''

Lysimachia glutinosa ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally Taxonomy (biology), classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a Molecular phylogeny, molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the f ...

'' *''

Lysimachia hillebrandii ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally Taxonomy (biology), classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a Molecular phylogeny, molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the f ...

'' Hook. f. ex A. Gray - ''kolokolo kuahiwi'' (Hawaii) *''

Lysimachia hybrida ''Lysimachia hybrida'', common name Mississippi loosestrife or lowland yellow loosestrife, is a plant species widespread in much of the United States and Canada, absent only from the deserts in the west and the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of th ...

'' Michx. *''

Lysimachia iniki ''Lysimachia iniki'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae known by the common names Wailua River yellow loosestrife and Wailua River island-loosestrife.Lysimachia japonica ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family wa ...

'' *''

Lysimachia latifolia ''Lysimachia latifolia'', sometimes called ''Trientalis latifolia'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae.The Plant List http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-26400203Howell, John Thomas. "Marin Flora: Manual of the F ...

'' - Pacific starflower *''

Lysimachia lichiangensis ''Lysimachia lichiangensis'' is a perennial herb, 35–75 cm in height, native to western Sichuan and north Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approx ...

'' Forrest *''

Lysimachia lydgatei ''Lysimachia lydgatei'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae known by the common name Maui yellow loosestrife. It is Endemism, endemic to Hawaii, where there are only four occurrences remaining on the island of Maui, the ...

'' - Maui yellow loosestrife (endemic to Maui, Hawaii) *''

Lysimachia maritima ''Lysimachia maritima'' is a plant species belonging to the family Primulaceae. It was previously called ''Glaux maritima'', the only species in the monotypic genus ''Glaux''. The species has a number of common names, including sea milkwort, sea ...

'' *''

Lysimachia mauritiana ''Lysimachia mauritiana'' is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae The Primulaceae , commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the Onagraceae, evening primrose family), are a family (biology), family o ...

'' *''

Lysimachia maxima ''Lysimachia maxima'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae known by the common name Pelekunu Trail yellow loosestrife. It is endemic to Hawaii, where there are only two small populations remaining on the island of Molok ...

'' (R.Knuth) H. St. John (Island of

Molokai Molokai , or Molokai (), is the fifth most populated of the eight major islands that make up the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Islands archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is 38 by 10 miles (61 by 16 km) at its greatest length an ...

in Hawaii) *''

Lysimachia minoricensis ''Lysimachia minoricensis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It was endemic to the island of Menorca in Spain. Its natural habitat was Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. It became extinct within its natural range due to habita ...

'' J.J. Rodr. ( Spain) *'' Lysimachia nemorum'' L. - yellow pimpernel *''

Lysimachia nummularia ''Lysimachia nummularia'' is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family (biology), family Primulaceae. Its common names include moneywort, creeping jenny, herb twopence and twopenny grass. Description It is a vigorous, prostrate, everg ...

'' L. - creeping jenny, moneywort (Europe, introduced in North America) *''

Lysimachia pendens ''Lysimachia pendens'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae known by the common name broad-leaf yellow loosestrife. It is endemic to Hawaii, where there is a single occurrence known on the island of Kauai.

'' * ''Lysimachia'' × ''producta'' , a hybrid of ''L. terrestris'' and ''L. quadrifolia'' *''

Lysimachia punctata ''Lysimachia punctata'', the dotted loosestrife, large yellow loosestrife, circle flower, or spotted loosestrife, is a flowering plant species in the family Primulaceae. Description ''Lysimachia punctata'' is a rhizome, rhizomatous perennial ...

'' - spotted loosestrife *''

Lysimachia quadriflora ''Lysimachia quadriflora'', the fourflower yellow loosestrife, is a species of herbaceous plant in the family Primulaceae. It native to the eastern United States and Canada. Description ''Lysimachia quadriflora'' is an erect branched forb growin ...

'' Sims - four-flower yellow loosestrife (Eastern North America) *''

Lysimachia quadrifolia ''Lysimachia quadrifolia'', the whorled loosestrife, whorled yellow loosestrife, or crosswort, is a species of herbaceous plant in the family Primulaceae The Primulaceae , commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the evening ...

'' L. - whorled loosestrife (Eastern North America) *''

Lysimachia scopulensis ''Lysimachia scopulensis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae known by the common name shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife. It is endemic to Hawaii, where there are two small populations on the island of Kauai.USFWSDetermin ...

'' *''

Lysimachia sertulata ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family w ...

'' - Chilean melilukul *''

Lysimachia terrestris ''Lysimachia terrestris'' (swamp candles, lake loosestrife or earth loosestrife) is a plant in the family Primulaceae. Description ''Lysimachia terrestris'' is a herbaceous plant with opposite, simple leaves, and erect stems. The flowers are pr ...

'' (L.) Britton,

Sterns Sterns may refer to: *Sterns (surname) *Stern's, defunct U.S. department store chain *Sterns Nightclub, defunct nightclub in Worthing, West Sussex, England *Stern's Pickle Works, defunct pickle factory based in New York *The Sterns, American band S ...

& Poggenb. - swamp candles (North America) *''

Lysimachia thyrsiflora ''Lysimachia thyrsiflora'', the tufted loosestrife, is a plant in the genus ''Lysimachia''. It is native to large sections of the northern Northern Hemisphere, including Eurasia and North America. It often grows in marshes, shorelines of lakes an ...

'' - tufted loosestrife *''

Lysimachia venosa ''Lysimachia venosa'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae known by the common name veined yellow loosestrife. It is Endemism, endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai.USFWSDetermination of Enda ...

'' - veined yellow loosestrife (endemic to Kauai, Hawaii) *''

Lysimachia verticillaris ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family wa ...

'' *'' Lysimachia vulgaris'' L. - garden loosestrife, yellow loosestrife (Eurasia)

References

External links

Lysimachus' Dog & Nisaean Horses
- Informative but non-scholarly essay on Lysimachia & Lysimachus (Annotated with Sources). *Pictures o

PAF - Lysimachia clethroides - Duby.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q157761 Primulaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus