Flower ID: IMG_7978.JPG-07-21-2021 Flower name (scientific): Lysimachia lanceolata Walter PY: 1788. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ly-sih-MAK-ee-ah lan-see-oh-LAY-tuh Flower name (common): Lance-leaved Loosestrife Family name (common): Primrose Family name (scientific): Primulaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Two explanations are offered for this name. Named by Dioscorides after King Lysimachus (Lysimachos, 360 BCE – 281 BCE) of Thrace. Or from the Ancient Greek λύσιζ, lúsis, a loosening. Specific epithet: For spear-shaped, referring to the lanceolate shape of the leaves. Common name origin: From the shape of the leaves. The other part, meaning to loose (end) strife, is apparently an ancient mistranslation of lysimachia, taken from the personal name Lysimachus. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 0.8 inches (1.3 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 24 to 60 inches (61 to 152 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, distal narrowly elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, proximal broadly elliptic or lanceolate (FNA), lanceolate or narrowly ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Streambanks, lake shores, pond margins, swamps, prairies, woodlands, sun or semi-shade, moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): There are a few Lysimachia species that are similar. Lysimachia ciliata (Fringed Loosestrife) has leaves that are 1.5 to 6.5 cm wide, and Lysimachia quadriflora (Prairie Loosestrife) has leaves that are 2 to 6 mm wide with a single prominent vein, whereas Lysimachia lanceolata has dimorphic leaves with the distal blades 2 to 16 mm wide, the proximal blades 6 to 18 mm wide and the leaves have pinnate-arculate venation. Most similar is Lysimachia hybrida (Lowland Yellow Loosestrife), which has monomorphic leaves with blades 5 to 30 mm wide and venation pinnate-arcuate to pinnate to single-veined. Lysimachia lanceolata has leaves that are green to dark green, with the leaf underside lighter green, whereas the leaves of Lysimachia hybrida are a similar green on both sides. Ethnobotany: Latitude: 44.801480 Longitude: -91.499465 Altitude: 238.80 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Bayfield, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Richland, Rock, Sauk, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, ON) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC