loosestrife

loose·strife  (lsstrf)

n.

1. Any of various plants of the genus Lysimachia, having usually yellow flowers.

2. Any of various plants of the genus Lythrum, having purple or white flowers.

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[Mistranslation of Latin lsimacha (as if from Greek lusis, loosening + Greek makh, battle), from Greek lsimakheios, perhaps after Lsimakhos, Lysimachos, Greek physician of the fifth or fourth century b.c.]

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loosestrife [ˈluːsˌstraɪf]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of various primulaceous plants of the genus Lysimachia, esp the yellow-flowered L. vulgaris (yellow loosestrife) See also moneywort

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants)

purple loosestrife a purple-flowered lythraceous marsh plant, Lythrum salicaria

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several similar or related plants, such as the primulaceous plant Naumburgia thyrsiflora (tufted loosestrife)

[loose + strife, an erroneous translation of Latin lysimachia, as if from Greek lusimakhos ending strife, instead of from the name of the supposed discoverer, Lusimakhos]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	loosestrife - any of numerous herbs and subshrubs of the genus Lythrum genus Lythrum, Lythrum - loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, purple loosestrife, spiked loosestrife - marsh herb with a long spike of purple flowers; originally of Europe but now rampant in eastern United States grass poly, hyssop loosestrife, Lythrum hyssopifolia - annual with small solitary pink flowers; originally of Europe but widely naturalized in moist areas subshrub, suffrutex - low-growing woody shrub or perennial with woody base
	2.	loosestrife - any of various herbs and subshrubs of the genus Lysimachia genus Lysimachia, Lysimachia - loosestrife: a cosmopolitan genus found in damp or swampy terrain having usually yellow flowers; inclined to be invasive gooseneck loosestrife, Lysimachia clethroides Duby - a variety of the loosestrife herb Lysimachia nemorum, yellow pimpernel - trailing European evergreen with yellow flowers fringed loosestrife, Lysimachia ciliatum - of North America creeping Charlie, creeping Jenny, Lysimachia nummularia, moneywort - a loosestrife vine garden loosestrife, Lysimachia vulgaris, yellow loosestrife - frequently considered a weed; Europe and Asia Lysimachia terrestris, swamp candles - North American plant with spikes of yellow flowers, found in wet places Lysimachia quadrifolia, whorled loosestrife - common North American yellow-flowered plant herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests