Purple loosestrife is an invasive species that continues to reproduce and is slowly being cured. The invasive species of purple loosestrife, or Lythrum Salicaria, is a wetland plant that can produce up to 2.7 million seeds with each plant blooming with approximately 30 flowering stems from early July to early September. Five to seven purple-pink petals emerge from the long flower spikes with one purple-rose flower. This invasive species can grow from four feet to ten feet tall. Species closely related to or often confused with purple loosestrife include the following: fireweed, blue verbena, flaming stars, and native swamp loosestrife. Europe and Asia are where purple loosestrife is native, but more specifically it traces back to Great Britain, central Russia, Japan, northern India and Southeast Asia. North America was exposed to purple loosestrife around the 19th century, and the United States and Canada began using this invasive species for medical use. European ships carried soil which was a ballast or heavy material that provided stability and was often used to form railroad or road beds, and once the ships docked in North America that soil was discarded, causing the plant to be introduced into North America. America. Introduced to the Atlantic coast of North America, this species began to grow westward, spreading to all Canadian provinces and all U.S. states, with the exception of Florida. Popular locations where purple loosestrife is found include the following: Great Lakes and Sioux Lookout, but it is also capable of invading freshwater pond edges, reservoirs, ditches and wet meadows. This facility is estimated to cover 400,000 acres of federal land. A popular promo... at the center of the newspaper... for "Biological control of purple loosestrife". Biological control of purple loosestrife. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2014. Web. 02 February 2014. .Munger, Gregory T. "Lythrum Salicaria." Lythrum Salicaria. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Science Laboratory, 2002. Web. 02 February 2014..Purple Loosestrife." Protecting America's Wildlife. National Wildlife Refuge Association, n.d. Web 02 Feb 2014..Swearingen, Jil M. "Purple Loosestrife." National Park Service, 07 Jul 2009. Web. 02 Feb. 2014..
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