Common name: Hyssop Loosestrife
Lythrum hyssopifolia L. APNI*
Description: Annual herb to 50 cm high, stems procumbent or ascending, glabrous.
Leaves usually alternate, linear-lanceolate to oblong, 5–25 mm long, 2–6 mm wide, apex acute to obtuse, base ± obtuse.
Flowers solitary in the upper leaf axils; homostylous. Hypanthium 3 mm long. Sepals mostly 6, triangular and membranous; appendages less than twice as long, narrow and subulate. Petals mostly 6, obovate to elliptic, 1–2 mm long, pink-mauve to purple. Stamens as many as petals, included.
Capsule dehiscing by 2–4 valves.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: widespread in moist places or near water.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP, SFWP, *LHI
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. *W.A. S.A.
Known to be toxic to sheep.
Text by J. Highet & Peter G. Wilson Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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