Although the leaves are grass-like, this plant is a sedge, not grass. To help tell the difference between rushes, grasses, and sedges, remember the little rhyme about the stems, "Rushes are round. Sedges have edges. Grasses have nodes." As a child, I used these flowers as magical "fairy wands." :) These plants can become a problem weed in flower gardens.
The name "Loosestrife" comes from the ancient practice of draping these plants over the necks of yoked oxen to "loosen the strife" between the animals.
Pea Family (INN) Rank 1 The pretty purple and yellow flowers of kudzu smell like grape soda! This vine has been called "a vegetative form of cancer" due to its incredibly fast growth. The plants were once planted for erosion control, however they quickly overgrew other plants and became a terrible weed. Unfortunately, I didn't have to go far to find these flowers, they were growing in my back yard! :( Perennial Where seen: EVERYWHERE!!!, Great Smoky Mountains NP, Warriors' Path SP
