288 Species in Genus Lysimachia

May 12 – Lysimachia
"Lysimachia, the loosestrife, defines May 12."
Lysimachia stands for adaptability and harmony. You are versatile and balanced, able to find your place in any situation. Like this plant, your ability to connect with others is your greatest strength.

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:

1. Lysimachia abscondita R.Trevis., Funez & Hassemer
2. Lysimachia acroadenia Maxim.
3. Lysimachia acuminata (Welw. ex Schinz) U.Manns & Anderb.
4. Lysimachia adoensis (Kunze) Klatt
5. Lysimachia albescens Franch.
6. Lysimachia alfredi Hance
7. Lysimachia alpestris Champ. ex Benth.
8. Lysimachia alternifolia Wall.
9. Lysimachia amoena (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Hassemer, Funez & R.Trevis.
10. Lysimachia andina Sandwith
11. Lysimachia angustiloba (Engl.) U.Manns & Anderb.
12. Lysimachia arvensis (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
13. Lysimachia aspera Hand.-Mazz.
14. Lysimachia asperulifolia Poir.
15. Lysimachia assamica C.M.Hu
16. Lysimachia atropurpurea L.
17. Lysimachia auriculata Hemsl.
18. Lysimachia azorica Hook.
19. Lysimachia baoxingensis (F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu) C.M.Hu
20. Lysimachia barbata (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
21. Lysimachia barystachys Bunge
22. Lysimachia baviensis C.M.Hu
23. Lysimachia biflora C.Y.Wu
24. Lysimachia borealis (Raf.) U.Manns & Anderb.
25. Lysimachia brachyandra F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
26. Lysimachia brevianthera Xin W.Li
27. Lysimachia breviflora C.M.Hu
28. Lysimachia brevipes (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
29. Lysimachia brittenii R.Knuth
30. Lysimachia caloneura G.Hao, X.L.Yu & A.Liu
31. Lysimachia campestris Funez, Hassemer & R.Trevis.
32. Lysimachia candida Lindl.
33. Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl.
34. Lysimachia carinata Y.I.Fang & C.Z.Cheng
35. Lysimachia catharinensis R.Trevis., Funez & Hassemer
36. Lysimachia cauliflora C.Y.Wu
37. Lysimachia cavicola You Nong & Y.G.Wen
38. Lysimachia chapaensis Merr.
39. Lysimachia chekiangensis C.C.Wu
40. Lysimachia chenii C.M.Hu
41. Lysimachia chenopodioides Watt ex Hook.f.
42. Lysimachia chiminghui Kottaim.
43. Lysimachia chingshuiensis C.I Peng & C.M.Hu
44. Lysimachia christinae Hance
45. Lysimachia chungdienensis C.Y.Wu
46. Lysimachia ciliata L.
47. Lysimachia circaeoides Hemsl.
48. Lysimachia clethroides Duby
49. Lysimachia collina (Schousb.) F.J.Jiménez
50. Lysimachia × commixta Fernald
51. Lysimachia congestiflora Hemsl.
52. Lysimachia cordifolia Hand.-Mazz.
53. Lysimachia coriacea S.R.Yi & H.F.Yan
54. Lysimachia cousiniana Coss.
55. Lysimachia crassifolia C.Z.Gao & D.Fang
56. Lysimachia crispidens (Hance) Hemsl.
57. Lysimachia crista-galli Pamp. ex Hand.-Mazz.
58. Lysimachia cubangensis U.Manns & Anderb.
59. Lysimachia dabieshanensis Kun Liu & S.B.Zhou
60. Lysimachia daphnoides (A.Gray) Hillebr.
61. Lysimachia daqiaoensis G.D.Tang & R.Z.Huang
62. Lysimachia davurica Ledeb.
63. Lysimachia debilis Wall.
64. Lysimachia decurrens G.Forst.
65. Lysimachia delavayi Franch.
66. Lysimachia deltoidea Wight
67. Lysimachia dextrorsiflora X.P.Zhang, X.H.Guo & J.W.Shao
68. Lysimachia djalonis (A.Chev.) U.Manns & Anderb.
69. Lysimachia × doerfleri (Ronniger) Stace
70. Lysimachia drynarifolia Franch.
71. Lysimachia dubia Aiton
72. Lysimachia dushanensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
73. Lysimachia elegantula (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
74. Lysimachia engleri R.Knuth
75. Lysimachia ephemerum L.
76. Lysimachia erosipetala F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
77. Lysimachia esquirolii Bonati
78. Lysimachia europaea (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
79. Lysimachia evalvis Wall.
80. Lysimachia excisa Hand.-Mazz.
81. Lysimachia fanii Y.Feng Huang, W.B.Xu & L.N.Dong
82. Lysimachia fenghwaiana G.Hao & H.F.Yan
83. Lysimachia filifolia C.N.Forbes & Lydgate
84. Lysimachia filiformis (Cham. & Schltdl.) U.Manns & Anderb.
85. Lysimachia filipes C.Z.Gao & D.Fang
86. Lysimachia fistulosa Hand.-Mazz.
87. Lysimachia fletcheri C.M.Hu & Bennell
88. Lysimachia foemina (Mill.) U.Manns & Anderb.
89. Lysimachia foenum-graecum Hance
90. Lysimachia fooningensis C.Y.Wu
91. Lysimachia forbesii Rock
92. Lysimachia fordiana Oliv.
93. Lysimachia fortunei Maxim.
94. Lysimachia fraseri Duby
95. Lysimachia fukienensis Hand.-Mazz.
96. Lysimachia glanduliflora Hanelt
97. Lysimachia glaucina Franch.
98. Lysimachia glutinosa Rock
99. Lysimachia gracilipes (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
100. Lysimachia graminea (Greene) Hand.-Mazz.
101. Lysimachia grammica Hance
102. Lysimachia hemsleyana Maxim. ex Oliv.
103. Lysimachia hemsleyi Franch.
104. Lysimachia henryi Hemsl.
105. Lysimachia heterobotrys F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
106. Lysimachia heterogenea Klatt
107. Lysimachia hexamera (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
108. Lysimachia hillebrandii Hook.f. ex A.Gray
109. Lysimachia huangsangensis J.J.Zhou, X.L.Yu & Y.F.Deng
110. Lysimachia huchimingii G.Hao & H.F.Yan
111. Lysimachia huitsunae S.S.Chien
112. Lysimachia huttonii (Harv.) U.Manns & Anderb.
113. Lysimachia hybrida Michx.
114. Lysimachia hypericoides Hemsl.
115. Lysimachia inaperta C.M.Hu & F.N.Wei
116. Lysimachia iniki K.L.Marr
117. Lysimachia insignis Hemsl.
118. Lysimachia interjacens C.M.Hu & Bennell
119. Lysimachia × intermedia (Giraudias) B.Bock
120. Lysimachia japonica Thunb.
121. Lysimachia jiangxiensis C.M.Hu
122. Lysimachia jingdongensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
123. Lysimachia jinzhaiensis S.B.Zhou & Kun Liu
124. Lysimachia kalalauensis Skottsb.
125. Lysimachia kingaensis (Engl.) U.Manns & Anderb.
126. Lysimachia klattiana Hance
127. Lysimachia kochii (H.E.Hess) U.Manns & Anderb.
128. Lysimachia kraduengensis Julius, Naiki & Tagane
129. Lysimachia kwangtungensis (Hand.-Mazz.) C.M.Hu
130. Lysimachia lanceola (Baudo) Hassemer, Funez & R.Trevis.
131. Lysimachia lanceolata Walter
132. Lysimachia lancifolia Craib
133. Lysimachia latifolia (Hook.) Cholewa
134. Lysimachia laxa Baudo
135. Lysimachia leschenaultii Duby
136. Lysimachia leucantha Miq.
137. Lysimachia lewisii D.Estes, J.T.Shaw & Maus.-Moon.
138. Lysimachia lichiangensis Forrest
139. Lysimachia linearifolia Griff. ex Kurz
140. Lysimachia linguiensis C.Z.Gao
141. Lysimachia linum-stellatum L.
142. Lysimachia liui S.S.Chien
143. Lysimachia liujiangensis W.B.Xu, Z.C.Lu & L.N.Dong
144. Lysimachia liukiuensis Hatus.
145. Lysimachia lobelioides Wall.
146. Lysimachia loeflingii F.J.Jiménez & M.Talavera
147. Lysimachia longipes Hemsl.
148. Lysimachia longshengensis G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang
149. Lysimachia loomisii Torr.
150. Lysimachia lychnoides F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
151. Lysimachia lydgatei Hillebr.
152. Lysimachia maritima (L.) Galasso, Banfi & Soldano
153. Lysimachia mauritiana Lam.
154. Lysimachia medogensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
155. Lysimachia melampyroides R.Knuth
156. Lysimachia mexicana R.Knuth
157. Lysimachia microcarpa Hand.-Mazz. ex C.Y.Wu
158. Lysimachia millietii (H.Lév.) Hand.-Mazz.
159. Lysimachia minima (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
160. Lysimachia minoricensis J.J.Rodr.
161. Lysimachia miyiensis Y.I.Fang & C.Z.Cheng
162. Lysimachia monelli (L.) U.Manns & Anderb.
163. Lysimachia montana (Reinw.) Bakh.f.
164. Lysimachia nanchuanensis C.Y.Wu
165. Lysimachia nanpingensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
166. Lysimachia navillei (H.Lév.) Hand.-Mazz.
167. Lysimachia nemorum L.
168. Lysimachia neolongipedicellata Idrees & J.M.H.Shaw
169. Lysimachia nigropunctata Masam.
170. Lysimachia nummularia L.
171. Lysimachia nummulariifolia (Baker) U.Manns & Anderb.
172. Lysimachia nutans Nees ex Duby
173. Lysimachia nutantiflora F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
174. Lysimachia ohsumiensis H.Hara
175. Lysimachia oligantha (P.Taylor) U.Manns & Anderb.
176. Lysimachia omeiensis Hemsl.
177. Lysimachia ophelioides Hemsl.
178. Lysimachia oppositifolia H.R.Fletcher
179. Lysimachia orbicularis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
180. Lysimachia otophora C.Y.Wu
181. Lysimachia ovalis (Ruiz & Pav.) U.Manns & Anderb.
182. Lysimachia ovatifolia W.L.Sha
183. Lysimachia pacifica F.Muell.
184. Lysimachia paridiformis Franch.
185. Lysimachia parvifolia Hemsl.
186. Lysimachia parvula Funez, Hassemer & R.Trevis.
187. Lysimachia patungensis Hand.-Mazz.
188. Lysimachia peduncularis Wall. ex Kurz
189. Lysimachia pendens K.L.Marr
190. Lysimachia pentapetala Bunge
191. Lysimachia peploides (Baker) U.Manns & Anderb.
192. Lysimachia perfoliata Hand.-Mazz.
193. Lysimachia petelotii Merr.
194. Lysimachia phyllocephala Hand.-Mazz.
195. Lysimachia physaloides C.Y.Wu & C.Chen
196. Lysimachia × pilophora (Honda) Honda
197. Lysimachia pilosa H.R.Fletcher
198. Lysimachia pittosporoides C.Y.Wu
199. Lysimachia platypetala Franch.
200. Lysimachia porcatisepala S.R.Yi
201. Lysimachia × producta (A.Gray) Fernald
202. Lysimachia prolifera Klatt
203. Lysimachia pseudohenryi Pamp.
204. Lysimachia pseudotrichopoda Hand.-Mazz.
205. Lysimachia pterantha Hemsl.
206. Lysimachia pteranthoides Bonati
207. Lysimachia pumila (Baudo) Franch.
208. Lysimachia punctata L. Plant FAQs: Lysimachia Punctata
209. Lysimachia punctatilimba C.Y.Wu
210. Lysimachia pyramidalis Wall.
211. Lysimachia qimenensis X.H.Guo, X.P.Zhang & J.W.Shao
212. Lysimachia quadriflora Sims
213. Lysimachia quadrifolia L.
214. Lysimachia racemiflora Bonati
215. Lysimachia × radfordii H.E.Ahles
216. Lysimachia radicans Hook.
217. Lysimachia rapensis F.Br.
218. Lysimachia ravenii C.I Peng
219. Lysimachia reflexiloba Hand.-Mazz.
220. Lysimachia remota Petitm.
221. Lysimachia remotiflora C.M.Hu
222. Lysimachia remyi Hillebr.
223. Lysimachia rhodesica (R.E.Fr.) U.Manns & Anderb.
224. Lysimachia robusta Hand.-Mazz.
225. Lysimachia roseola F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
226. Lysimachia rubiginosa Hemsl.
227. Lysimachia rubinervis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
228. Lysimachia rubricaulis (Duby) U.Manns & Anderb.
229. Lysimachia ruhmeriana Vatke
230. Lysimachia rupestris F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
231. Lysimachia santapaui Subba Rao & Halim
232. Lysimachia savranii Başköse & A.Keskin
233. Lysimachia saxicola Chun & F.Chun
234. Lysimachia scapiflora C.M.Hu, Z.R.Xu & F.P.Chen
235. Lysimachia schliebenii (R.Knuth & Mildbr.) U.Manns & Anderb.
236. Lysimachia sciadantha C.Y.Wu
237. Lysimachia sciadophylla F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
238. Lysimachia scopulensis K.L.Marr
239. Lysimachia septemfida Ze H.Wang & E.D.Liu
240. Lysimachia serpens (Hochst. ex Duby) U.Manns & Anderb.
241. Lysimachia serpyllifolia Schreb.
242. Lysimachia sertulata Baudo
243. Lysimachia shimianensis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
244. Lysimachia siamensis Bonati
245. Lysimachia sikokiana Miq.
246. Lysimachia silvestrii (Pamp.) Hand.-Mazz.
247. Lysimachia simulans Hemsl.
248. Lysimachia sinopilosa C.M.Hu & G.Hao
249. Lysimachia stellarioides Hand.-Mazz.
250. Lysimachia stenosepala Hemsl.
251. Lysimachia steyermarkii Standl.
252. Lysimachia stigmatosa F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
253. Lysimachia subverticillata C.Y.Wu
254. Lysimachia sumatranica C.M.Hu
255. Lysimachia taiwaniana T.Suzuki ex M.T.Kao
256. Lysimachia talaverae L.Sáez & Aymerich
257. Lysimachia taliensis Bonati
258. Lysimachia tashiroi Makino
259. Lysimachia tenella L.
260. Lysimachia tengyuehensis Hand.-Mazz.
261. Lysimachia tenuicaulis (Baker) U.Manns & Anderb.
262. Lysimachia terrestris (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
263. Lysimachia thyrsiflora L.
264. Lysimachia tianmaensis Kun Liu, S.B.Zhou & Ying Wang
265. Lysimachia tianyangensis D.Fang & C.Z.Gao
266. Lysimachia tienmushanensis Migo
267. Lysimachia tonsa (Alph.Wood) R.Knuth
268. Lysimachia trichopoda Franch.
269. Lysimachia trifida Aver.
270. Lysimachia tsaii C.M.Hu
271. Lysimachia tsaratananae (M.Peltier) U.Manns & Anderb.
272. Lysimachia tsarongensis Hand.-Mazz.
273. Lysimachia tyrrhenia U.Manns & Anderb.
274. Lysimachia venosa (Wawra) H.St.John
275. Lysimachia verbascifolia C.M.Hu & L.K.Phan
276. Lysimachia verna (A.St.-Hil.) U.Manns & Anderb.
277. Lysimachia verticillaris Biehler
278. Lysimachia vietnamensis L.K.Phan & C.M.Hu
279. Lysimachia violascens Franch.
280. Lysimachia vittiformis F.H.Chen & C.M.Hu
281. Lysimachia volkensii Engl.
282. Lysimachia volkovae Prob.
283. Lysimachia vulgaris L.
284. Lysimachia wildpretii (Valdés) U.Manns & Anderb.
285. Lysimachia wilsonii Hemsl.
286. Lysimachia xiangxiensis D.G.Zhang, C.Mou & Y.Wu
287. Lysimachia xuyongensis X.F.Gao & W.B.Ju
288. 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.