Yellow loosestrife, Lysimachia vulgaris, wood pimpernel, garden loosestrife

Lysimachia, the genus name, is in honor of Lysimachus, (c. 360BC – 281BC), a Macedonian general who, as one of the successors to Alexander the Great, became the ruler (king, in effect) of a large part of the divided Macedonian Empire that had all been Alexander’s realm. Greek name Lysimachia (“lysis” mean dissolve and “makhos” mean battle), which was used for both yellow loosestrife and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). The specific epithet Vulgaris means common. According to myth, the medicinal properties of yellow loosestrife were first discovered by a man named Lysimakhos. No one knows who he was and what role he played in history is uncertain but in ancient literature, he is referred to as an herbal doctor, king of Sicily or general in the army of Alexander the Great. Yellow loosestrife did not play a vital part as a medicinal herb during the Middle Ages and was first later used as a remedy for fever?, diarrhea?, and dysentery.

Yellow Loosestrife Facts

Plant Description

Yellow Loosestrife is attractive, tall, herbaceous perennial flowering plants that normally grows from 50 -150 cm tall (1.5-5 feet) and has a creeping rhizome with numerous runners (stolons) that produce branched erect stems. The plant is found growing in marshes, streams, shallow water in reed swamps, shady places near water, fens, wet woods, lake shores, river banks, freshwater wetlands, beaches, wet meadows, floodplain forests, roadside embankments, herbaceous wetland, salt marsh, yard or garden and riparian zones. The plant thrives well in damp or soaked loamy (clay) soil. Although the plant has a preference for shady locales, it succeeds in sun as well as partly shaded positions. Clay soils are most appropriate for the robust growth of yellow loosestrife. The plant has creeping root, which persists year after year. Stems are erect, terete or obtusely quadrangular, simple or paniculately branched, pubescent, and covered with a soft, fine down.

Leaves

Plant bears number of nearly stalk less leaves, sometimes in pairs, sometimes three or four springing from the same spot. They are rather large and broad, 3 to 6 inches (7-12 cm) long and about 1 1/4 inches (1.5-4 cm) broad, oblong or lance-shaped and sharply tapering at the top. Their edges are unbroken. The undersurfaces are downy with soft, spreading hairs, especially on the veins, and the upper surfaces are marked with black dots which are glands. Whatever arrangement we find in any given plant holds throughout: we do not find in the same plant some of the leaves in pairs and others in three. When the leaves are in pairs, the stem is quadrangular and the angles increase as the leaves increase in number. The middle and upper leaves have short petioles and are acuminate.

Flower

At the top of the stem arise the flower buds, in the axils of the leaves. Each becomes a short stalk carrying a terminal flower, below which other flowers on smaller stalks arise – the ends of the main stem thus becoming covered with a mass of golden blossoms. The flower stalks are slightly viscid, or sticky, to the touch. Each flower is about 3/4 inch in diameter, forming a cup of five petals, quite distinct at their tips, but joined together near the base. When the flowers droop, the five-pointed calyx, whose edges are fringed with fine red hairs is seen at the back of the petals. The five stamens look quite separate but are joined together at the bottom by a fleshy band attached to the petals so that they seem to stand on a little glandular tube. Flowering normally takes place in between April to September.

Fruits

Fertile flowers are followed by egg-shaped seed capsules that contain a few seeds and split open when ripe. The seeds of this plant are most likely water-dispersed. However, the main method of dispersal for this plant is via rhizomes.

Traditional uses and benefits of Yellow Loosestrife

• An astringent herb, yellow loosestrife is principally used to treat gastro-intestinal conditions such as diarrhea? and dysentery.
• The herb is astringent, demulcent and expectorant.
• Plant can be used internally or externally and is useful in checking bleeding of the mouth, nose and wounds, restraining profuse hemorrhages of any kind and in the treatment of diarrhea?.
• It makes a serviceable mouthwash for treating sore gums and mouth ulcers.
• Loosestrife proves useful in checking bleeding of the mouth, nose and wounds, restraining profuse hemorrhage of any kind.
• It can be used to clean minor wounds, cuts, and scrapes and halt nosebleeds and another minor bleeding, both externally and internally.
• In the form of mouthwashes, a tea made from the herb can be used as an herbal remedy for mouth ulcers (canker sores) and bleeding or inflamed gums.
• It is regarded to be useful as a relief for sore eyes and is thought to be of equivalent or maybe greater value than eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis).
• Herb is also helpful as a mouthwash, especially to heal canker sores and tender gums.
• It is effective in restricting any type of hemorrhages.
• Yellow loosestrife can also be used as an effective mouthwash for curing ulcers in the mouth.
• Yellow loosestrife is used as a remedy for profuse menstrual flow and hemorrhage.

Other Facts

• Yellow dye is obtained from the flowers.
• Brown dye is obtained from the rhizomes.
• The growing plant repels gnats and flies; it has been burnt in houses in order to remove these insects.
• Rhizome and the runners give a brown color, while the leaves and stems give a yellow color.
• Smoke exuded by the burning yellow loosestrife is used by people to keep off snakes.
• Yellow Loosestrife tied around the necks of oxen was reputed to keep irritating flies away from them.
• In the distant past these and several other kinds of ‘loosestrife’ plants were also used to get rid of infestations of flies in houses.
• The plants were dried and burned indoors, and toxins in the smoke drove out the flies (and no doubt also any human occupants).

Different Control Methods

Biological

There are no known biological control agents for this species.

Physical

Hand-pulling is effective for small infestations and/or for young plants. Care should be taken to dig out and remove all plant fragments, particularly the rhizomes, to prevent regrowth. All seed heads and rhizomes pieces should be disposed of in plastic bags and removed from the site.

Repeated mowing of L. Vulgaris may contain the existing population, but it will not eradicate it.

Chemical

To control larger infestations, treatment with herbicides containing glyphosate, imazapyr, or triclopyr may be necessary. It is important to note that glyphosate and imazapyr are non-selective and will harm any plant it comes in contact with. Triclopyr will not harm grasses, sedges, or cattails, and maybe more appropriate to use in diverse plant communities.

Physical control methods should not be used on populations treated with herbicides until several weeks after application.

Precautions

• If used for prolonged periods, tannins contained in the plant may cause a deficiency of essential minerals within the body.
• It should not be used for internal medicinal purposes for prolonged periods.

References