Purple Loosestrife - a native (Lythrum salicaria)

Family: Lythraceae (Loosestrife family).

Cosmopolitan. There has been speculation that Purple Loosestrife is non-native.

Occurrence: Uncommon wetland plant.

Identification:

• it is an erect plant to a metre high or more
• the pink-purple flowers are showy along the erect stem
• the leaves are opposite, in pairs or threes.

Photos 1,2,3: Purple Loosestrife. Goldfields Revegetation. 4: Harrietville.

Small Loosestrife (Lythrum hyssopifolia) is a much smaller plant with small flowers.