Winged Loosestrife (Lythrum alatum)

August 18th, 2012. We made another ‘run’ along the Saxon-Norman-Broad Road in Oglethorpe-Wilkes counties. The Winged Loosestrife (Lythrum alatum) plants were growing in the deep ditches by the road in Oglethorpe County. These plants would be easy to overlook since they aren’t really showy. I managed to get a few photographs but didn’t dare climb down into the ditch. It would have taken a winch to get me out again.

*****

 Views of the flower. Flowers are about ½ inch diameter.

 A closer view.

 The back of the flower

Lythrum alatum (Winged Lythrum, Winged Loosestrife, Wing angle Loosestrife) is native of the United States where it’s found in states southeast of a line from Maine to Montana and south to Colorado and Texas. In Georgia, it’s been documented in only a few counties in the state including Wilkes but not Oglethorpe counties.

Click on an image to view a larger image

Identification resources:

- Southeastern Flora:  Lythrum alatum (Wing angle Loosestrife)

- Missouri Plants: Lythrum alatum
- Illinois Wildflowers: Lythrum alatum (Winged Loosestrife)
 

Distribution:

- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Lythrum alatum (WingedLythrum)