loosestrife

noun loose·strife \ ˈlü(s)-ˌstrīf \

Updated on: 29 Mar 2018

Definition of loosestrife

1 : any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family with leafy stems and usually yellow or white flowers

2 : any of a genus (Lythrum, family Lythraceae, the loosestrife family) of herbs having entire leaves and including some with showy spikes of purple flowers; especially : purple loosestrife

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Recent Examples of loosestrife from the Web

To combat the problem, beetles that dined on loosestrife were introduced.

— connie bruck, The New Yorker, "The Mail," 14 Mar. 2018
Garden Invasives: Eurasian bush honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry, burning bush, haveart bishop’s goutweed and purple loosestrife.

— joanne kempinger demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Invasive plants to watch out for," 20 Aug. 2017
Visitors to the preserve trundle along a wobbly wooden boardwalk, where they are welcomed by a breathtaking view of a serene, blue lake framed by stands of native flora: swamp loosestrife, pickerel weed, lotus flowers, swamp milkweed and buttonbush.

— james f. mccarty, cleveland.com, "Geauga County's Snow Lake Preserve is environmental keystone of Cuyahoga Wetlands: (photos, videos)," 6 Aug. 2017
Purple loosestrife beetles were imported from Germany to another invasive species from overtaking the wetlands.

— lydia lohrer, Detroit Free Press, "How a beetle can protect hemlock trees from Great Lakes invader HWA," 5 Aug. 2017
Native loosestrife has tiny yellow buttercup flowers and bronze leaves.

— perdita buchan, The Christian Science Monitor, "Return of the natives," 24 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loosestrife.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.