loosestrife

Everyday

A tall wild plant that grows by rivers, ponds and in damp places; purple loosestrife has spikes of bright purple-pink flowers, and yellow loosestrife has yellow flowers. tree →

In the lessons

In The Wind in the Willows, the riverbank in summer is full of wild flowers: «Purple loosestrife arrived early, shaking luxuriant tangled locks along the edge of the mirror», in the chapter «The Piper at the Gates of Dawn». In science, loosestrife is a habitat for bees and butterflies; in North America purple loosestrife came from Europe and is an invasive weed that crowds out native plants.

Examples

• Purple loosestrife grows along the riverbank. tree →
• Bees buzzed around the loosestrife. tree →
• The loosestrife was reflected in the still water. tree →
• In Canada, purple loosestrife is an invasive weed. tree →
• Yellow loosestrife is a different plant. tree →
• Grahame describes loosestrife, willow-herb and meadowsweet by the river. tree →

Note

One word. Despite the name it has nothing to do with being «loose» or «strife» (fighting) — it is a plant name from old translations.