Lysimachia: A Personal Exploration of a Diverse Genus
As a plant enthusiast, I’m always eager to delve deeper into the fascinating world of botany. Recently, my attention was captured by the genus Lysimachia, a diverse group of flowering plants with a rich history and a wide array of captivating forms. Join me, Ferb Vu, as we embark on a journey to explore the intricacies of this remarkable genus.
A Brief Overview of Lysimachia
Lysimachia, a member of the primrose family (Primulaceae), encompasses a vast array of approximately 288 species. These plants are predominantly herbaceous perennials, though a few species exhibit shrub-like characteristics. They are widespread across the globe, gracing a variety of habitats, from damp woodlands and meadows to the edges of tranquil streams and ponds.
One of the most striking features of Lysimachia is their vibrant flowers. Typically boasting five petals, these blossoms come in a spectrum of colors, with yellow being the most prevalent. However, delicate shades of white, pink, and purple also adorn certain species. The flowers often cluster in eye-catching racemes or panicles, creating a spectacle of color that enchants any observer.
The foliage of Lysimachia is equally diverse, ranging from simple and lance-shaped to rounded and heart-shaped. Some species even exhibit variegated patterns, adding another layer of visual interest to these already captivating plants.
Delving into the Species
The sheer diversity within the genus Lysimachia is truly astounding:
- Lysimachia abscondita R.Trevis., Funez & Hassemer
- Lysimachia acroadenia Maxim.
- Lysimachia acuminata (Welw. ex Schinz) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia adoensis (Kunze) Klatt
- Lysimachia albescens Franch.
- Lysimachia alfredi Hance
- Lysimachia alpestris Champ. ex Benth.
- Lysimachia alternifolia Wall.
- Lysimachia amoena (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Hassemer, Funez & R.Trevis.
- Lysimachia andina Sandwith
- Lysimachia angustiloba (Engl.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia arvensis (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia aspera Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia asperulifolia Poir.
- Lysimachia assamica C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia atropurpurea L.
- Lysimachia auriculata Hemsl.
- Lysimachia azorica Hook.
- Lysimachia baoxingensis (F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu) C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia barbata (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia barystachys Bunge
- Lysimachia baviensis C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia biflora C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia borealis (Raf.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia brachyandra F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia brevianthera Xin W.Li
- Lysimachia breviflora C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia brevipes (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia brittenii R.Knuth
- Lysimachia caloneura G.Hao, X.L.Yu & A.Liu
- Lysimachia campestris Funez, Hassemer & R.Trevis.
- Lysimachia candida Lindl.
- Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl.
- Lysimachia carinata Y.I.Fang & C.Z.Cheng
- Lysimachia catharinensis R.Trevis., Funez & Hassemer
- Lysimachia cauliflora C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia cavicola You Nong & Y.G.Wen
- Lysimachia chapaensis Merr.
- Lysimachia chekiangensis C.C.Wu
- Lysimachia chenii C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia chenopodioides Watt ex Hook.f.
- Lysimachia chiminghui Kottaim.
- Lysimachia chingshuiensis C.I Peng & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia christinae Hance
- Lysimachia chungdienensis C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia ciliata L.
- Lysimachia circaeoides Hemsl.
- Lysimachia clethroides Duby
- Lysimachia collina (Schousb.) F.J.Jiménez
- Lysimachia × commixta Fernald
- Lysimachia congestiflora Hemsl.
- Lysimachia cordifolia Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia coriacea S.R.Yi & H.F.Yan
- Lysimachia cousiniana Coss.
- Lysimachia crassifolia C.Z.Gao & D.Fang
- Lysimachia crispidens (Hance) Hemsl.
- Lysimachia crista-galli Pamp. ex Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia cubangensis U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia dabieshanensis Kun Liu & S.B.Zhou
- Lysimachia daphnoides (A.Gray) Hillebr.
- Lysimachia daqiaoensis G.D.Tang & R.Z.Huang
- Lysimachia davurica Ledeb.
- Lysimachia debilis Wall.
- Lysimachia decurrens G.Forst.
- Lysimachia delavayi Franch.
- Lysimachia deltoidea Wight
- Lysimachia dextrorsiflora X.P.Zhang, X.H.Guo & J.W.Shao
- Lysimachia djalonis (A.Chev.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia × doerfleri (Ronniger) Stace
- Lysimachia drynarifolia Franch.
- Lysimachia dubia Aiton
- Lysimachia dushanensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia elegantula (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia engleri R.Knuth
- Lysimachia ephemerum L.
- Lysimachia erosipetala F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia esquirolii Bonati
- Lysimachia europaea (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia evalvis Wall.
- Lysimachia excisa Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia fanii Y.Feng Huang, W.B.Xu & L.N.Dong
- Lysimachia fenghwaiana G.Hao & H.F.Yan
- Lysimachia filifolia C.N.Forbes & Lydgate
- Lysimachia filiformis (Cham. & Schltdl.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia filipes C.Z.Gao & D.Fang
- Lysimachia fistulosa Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia fletcheri C.M.Hu & Bennell
- Lysimachia foemina (Mill.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia foenum-graecum Hance
- Lysimachia fooningensis C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia forbesii Rock
- Lysimachia fordiana Oliv.
- Lysimachia fortunei Maxim.
- Lysimachia fraseri Duby
- Lysimachia fukienensis Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia glanduliflora Hanelt
- Lysimachia glaucina Franch.
- Lysimachia glutinosa Rock
- Lysimachia gracilipes (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia graminea (Greene) Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia grammica Hance
- Lysimachia hemsleyana Maxim. ex Oliv.
- Lysimachia hemsleyi Franch.
- Lysimachia henryi Hemsl.
- Lysimachia heterobotrys F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia heterogenea Klatt
- Lysimachia hexamera (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia hillebrandii Hook.f. ex A.Gray
- Lysimachia huangsangensis J.J.Zhou, X.L.Yu & Y.F.Deng
- Lysimachia huchimingii G.Hao & H.F.Yan
- Lysimachia huitsunae S.S.Chien
- Lysimachia huttonii (Harv.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia hybrida Michx.
- Lysimachia hypericoides Hemsl.
- Lysimachia inaperta C.M.Hu & F.N.Wei
- Lysimachia iniki K.L.Marr
- Lysimachia insignis Hemsl.
- Lysimachia interjacens C.M.Hu & Bennell
- Lysimachia × intermedia (Giraudias) B.Bock
- Lysimachia japonica Thunb.
- Lysimachia jiangxiensis C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia jingdongensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia jinzhaiensis S.B.Zhou & Kun Liu
- Lysimachia kalalauensis Skottsb.
- Lysimachia kingaensis (Engl.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia klattiana Hance
- Lysimachia kochii (H.E.Hess) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia kraduengensis Julius, Naiki & Tagane
- Lysimachia kwangtungensis (Hand.-Mazz.) C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia lanceola (Baudo) Hassemer, Funez & R.Trevis.
- Lysimachia lanceolata Walter
- Lysimachia lancifolia Craib
- Lysimachia latifolia (Hook.) Cholewa
- Lysimachia laxa Baudo
- Lysimachia leschenaultii Duby
- Lysimachia leucantha Miq.
- Lysimachia lewisii D.Estes, J.T.Shaw & Maus.-Moon.
- Lysimachia lichiangensis Forrest
- Lysimachia linearifolia Griff. ex Kurz
- Lysimachia linguiensis C.Z.Gao
- Lysimachia linum-stellatum L.
- Lysimachia liui S.S.Chien
- Lysimachia liujiangensis W.B.Xu, Z.C.Lu & L.N.Dong
- Lysimachia liukiuensis Hatus.
- Lysimachia lobelioides Wall.
- Lysimachia loeflingii F.J.Jiménez & M.Talavera
- Lysimachia longipes Hemsl.
- Lysimachia longshengensis G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang
- Lysimachia loomisii Torr.
- Lysimachia lychnoides F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia lydgatei Hillebr.
- Lysimachia maritima (L.) Galasso, Banfi & Soldano
- Lysimachia mauritiana Lam.
- Lysimachia medogensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia melampyroides R.Knuth
- Lysimachia mexicana R.Knuth
- Lysimachia microcarpa Hand.-Mazz. ex C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia millietii (H.Lév.) Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia minima (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia minoricensis J.J.Rodr.
- Lysimachia miyiensis Y.I.Fang & C.Z.Cheng
- Lysimachia monelli (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia montana (Reinw.) Bakh.f.
- Lysimachia nanchuanensis C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia nanpingensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia navillei (H.Lév.) Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia nemorum L.
- Lysimachia neolongipedicellata Idrees & J.M.H.Shaw
- Lysimachia nigropunctata Masam.
- Lysimachia nummularia L.
- Lysimachia nummulariifolia (Baker) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia nutans Nees ex Duby
- Lysimachia nutantiflora F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia ohsumiensis H.Hara
- Lysimachia oligantha (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia omeiensis Hemsl.
- Lysimachia ophelioides Hemsl.
- Lysimachia oppositifolia H.R.Fletcher
- Lysimachia orbicularis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia otophora C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia ovalis (Ruiz & Pav.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia ovatifolia W.L.Sha
- Lysimachia pacifica F.Muell.
- Lysimachia paridiformis Franch.
- Lysimachia parvifolia Hemsl.
- Lysimachia parvula Funez, Hassemer & R.Trevis.
- Lysimachia patungensis Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia peduncularis Wall. ex Kurz
- Lysimachia pendens K.L.Marr
- Lysimachia pentapetala Bunge
- Lysimachia peploides (Baker) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia perfoliata Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia petelotii Merr.
- Lysimachia phyllocephala Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia physaloides C.Y.Wu & C.Chen
- Lysimachia × pilophora (Honda) Honda
- Lysimachia pilosa H.R.Fletcher
- Lysimachia pittosporoides C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia platypetala Franch.
- Lysimachia porcatisepala S.R.Yi
- Lysimachia × producta (A.Gray) Fernald
- Lysimachia prolifera Klatt
- Lysimachia pseudohenryi Pamp.
- Lysimachia pseudotrichopoda Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia pterantha Hemsl.
- Lysimachia pteranthoides Bonati
- Lysimachia pumila (Baudo) Franch.
- Lysimachia punctata L.
- Lysimachia punctatilimba C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia pyramidalis Wall.
- Lysimachia qimenensis X.H.Guo, X.P.Zhang & J.W.Shao
- Lysimachia quadriflora Sims
- Lysimachia quadrifolia L.
- Lysimachia racemiflora Bonati
- Lysimachia × radfordii H.E.Ahles
- Lysimachia radicans Hook.
- Lysimachia rapensis F.Br.
- Lysimachia ravenii C.I Peng
- Lysimachia reflexiloba Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia remota Petitm.
- Lysimachia remotiflora C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia remyi Hillebr.
- Lysimachia rhodesica (R.E.Fr.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia robusta Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia roseola F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia rubiginosa Hemsl.
- Lysimachia rubinervis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia rubricaulis (Duby) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia ruhmeriana Vatke
- Lysimachia rupestris F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia santapaui Subba Rao & Halim
- Lysimachia savranii Başköse & A.Keskin
- Lysimachia saxicola Chun & F.Chun
- Lysimachia scapiflora C.M.Hu, Z.R.Xu & F.P.Chen
- Lysimachia schliebenii (R.Knuth & Mildbr.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia sciadantha C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia sciadophylla F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia scopulensis K.L.Marr
- Lysimachia septemfida Ze H.Wang & E.D.Liu
- Lysimachia serpens (Hochst. ex Duby) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia serpyllifolia Schreb.
- Lysimachia sertulata Baudo
- Lysimachia shimianensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia siamensis Bonati
- Lysimachia sikokiana Miq.
- Lysimachia silvestrii (Pamp.) Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia simulans Hemsl.
- Lysimachia sinopilosa C.M.Hu & G.Hao
- Lysimachia stellarioides Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia stenosepala Hemsl.
- Lysimachia steyermarkii Standl.
- Lysimachia stigmatosa F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia subverticillata C.Y.Wu
- Lysimachia sumatranica C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia taiwaniana T.Suzuki ex M.T.Kao
- Lysimachia talaverae L.Sáez & Aymerich
- Lysimachia taliensis Bonati
- Lysimachia tashiroi Makino
- Lysimachia tenella L.
- Lysimachia tengyuehensis Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia tenuicaulis (Baker) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia terrestris (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
- Lysimachia thyrsiflora L.
- Lysimachia tianmaensis Kun Liu, S.B.Zhou & Ying Wang
- Lysimachia tianyangensis D.Fang & C.Z.Gao
- Lysimachia tienmushanensis Migo
- Lysimachia tonsa (Alph.Wood) R.Knuth
- Lysimachia trichopoda Franch.
- Lysimachia trifida Aver.
- Lysimachia tsaii C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia tsaratananae (M.Peltier) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia tsarongensis Hand.-Mazz.
- Lysimachia tyrrhenia U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia venosa (Wawra) H.St.John
- Lysimachia verbascifolia C.M.Hu & L.K.Phan
- Lysimachia verna (A.St.-Hil.) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia verticillaris Biehler
- Lysimachia vietnamensis L.K.Phan & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia violascens Franch.
- Lysimachia vittiformis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
- Lysimachia volkensii Engl.
- Lysimachia volkovae Prob.
- Lysimachia vulgaris L.
- Lysimachia wildpretii (Valdés) U.Manns & Anderb.
- Lysimachia wilsonii Hemsl.
- Lysimachia xiangxiensis D.G.Zhang, C.Mou & Y.Wu
- Lysimachia xuyongensis X.F.Gao & W.B.Ju
- Lysimachia yingdeensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
The Allure of Lysimachia
What is it about Lysimachia that has captivated me so? Perhaps it’s their resilience, their ability to thrive in a variety of conditions. Or maybe it’s their versatility, their adaptability to diverse garden settings. But more than that, I believe it’s their understated elegance, their ability to enhance a landscape without overpowering it.
Lysimachia seamlessly blends into its surroundings, providing a subtle yet impactful presence. Whether cascading over a rock wall, gracing a woodland edge, or adding a pop of color to a border, these plants possess an undeniable charm.
Cultivating Lysimachia
For those eager to invite Lysimachia into their own gardens, here are a few cultivation tips:
- Soil: Most Lysimachia species prefer moist, well-drained soil. However, some species, like Lysimachia nummularia, can tolerate wet conditions.
- Light: The majority of Lysimachia thrive in full sun to partial shade. However, some species, such as Lysimachia clethroides, prefer a shadier location.
- Maintenance: Lysimachia are generally low-maintenance plants. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage repeat blooming, and dividing overgrown clumps can maintain their vigor.
With their captivating beauty and ease of care, Lysimachia are a rewarding addition to any garden. Their diversity ensures that there’s a species to suit every taste and setting. So, why not embark on your own exploration of this fascinating genus? You might just discover your new favorite plant.