Is purple loosestrife good for anything?
Purple loosestrife is a plant. The flowering parts are used as medicine. People use purple loosestrife as a tea for diarrhea, menstrual problems, and bacterial infections. Loosestrife’ is a literal translation of the Greek name for the plant. It has long been believed to have a calming effect: in classical times, it was believed that ‘if placed on the yoke of inharmonious oxen, it will restrain their quarrelling’ (thanks to Richard Mabey’s Flora Britannica for this titbit).
What is the difference between purple loosestrife and lupine?
Lupines prefer well-drained, slightly acid soils. Purple loosestrife prefers moist soil, including bogs, and are listed as an invasive plant. You will note they are always at the low point of the side of the road. They will crowd out “cat tails” in swamps. Lupinus, commonly known as lupin or lupine (North America), is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. The genus includes over 200 species, with centers of diversity in North and South America.