August 7, 2006
Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria
An unwanted beauty at the Reservation, purple loosestrife is an introduced invasive pant that grows in wetlands and has the potential for outgrowing native plants that support native wildlife. It can be seen overgrowing a cattail wetland near Little Fresh Pond, and popping up along the shorelines of Fresh Pond and the smaller ponds. Volunteers and Water Department Staff remove several dozen plants every year from the Water Department bioswales.