Lysimachia quadrifolia
L.
Whorled Yellow Loosestrife
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Jason King, CC BY-NC 4.0
Mirko Schoenitz, CC0 1.0
Kristály Cravens-Liszak, CC BY 4.0
Michael J. Papay, CC BY 4.0
ghanna, CC BY-NC 4.0
Laura Traver, CC BY-NC 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155498
Element CodePDPRI070N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPrimulales
FamilyPrimulaceae
GenusLysimachia
Other Common Names
Lysimaque à quatre feuilles (FR) whorled yellow loosestrife (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-15
Change Date1985-04-10
Edition Date2024-08-15
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Lysimachia quadrifolia is a wide-ranging perennial herb in a variety of habitats occurring in eastern North America from New Brunswick west to Ontario, Canada south to Georgia, Alabama, and Minnesota in the United States. Threats potentially include development, logging, recreational activities, succession, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Lysimachia quadrifolia occurs in eastern North America from New Brunswick west to Ontario, Canada south to Georgia, Alabama, and Minnesota in the United States (FNA 2009). Range extent was estimated to be over 2.5 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 4,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, logging, recreational activities, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Lysimachia quadrifolia grows in "dry to mesic hardwood forests, lowlands, fens, moist clearings, roadsides, and fields, rocky thickets and slopes, seashores" and "a wide variety of forests and openings, including pine savannas of the outer Coastal Plain" (FNA 2009, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - MixedForest EdgeWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavanna
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDBog/fen
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | S4 | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | S1 | Yes |
| New Brunswick | S1 | Yes |
| Quebec | S3 | Yes |
United StatesN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | S5 | Yes |
| Delaware | S5 | Yes |
| Connecticut | SNR | Yes |
| Minnesota | S3 | Yes |
| South Carolina | S4 | Yes |
| Rhode Island | SNR | Yes |
| Maine | SNR | Yes |
| Georgia | S5 | Yes |
| West Virginia | S5 | Yes |
| Massachusetts | SNR | Yes |
| Alabama | SNR | Yes |
| Kentucky | S5 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | S5 | Yes |
| District of Columbia | SNR | Yes |
| New York | S5 | Yes |
| Indiana | SNR | Yes |
| Illinois | SNR | Yes |
| Ohio | SNR | Yes |
| Maryland | SNR | Yes |
| New Hampshire | SNR | Yes |
| Tennessee | SNR | Yes |
| North Carolina | S5 | Yes |
| New Jersey | S5 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | SNR | Yes |
| Michigan | SNR | Yes |
| Vermont | S5 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown/undetermined | — | — | — |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (93)
Georgia (13)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Gap | Chattahoochee National Forest | 1,292 |
| Big Mountain | Chattahoochee National Forest | 1,974 |
| Boggs Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 2,073 |
| Cedar Mountain | Chattahoochee National Forest | 1,083 |
| Helton Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 2,348 |
| Joe Gap | Chattahoochee National Forest | 5,321 |
| Kelly Ridge | Chattahoochee National Forest | 8,325 |
| Lance Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 9,025 |
| Patterson Gap | Chattahoochee National Forest | 1,186 |
| Pink Knob | Chattahoochee National Forest | 12,127 |
| Rocky Mountain | Chattahoochee National Forest | 4,269 |
| Sarah's Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 6,888 |
| Tate Branch | Chattahoochee National Forest | 1,069 |
Indiana (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Mogan Ridge | Hoosier National Forest | 8,435 |
Kentucky (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Wolfpen | Daniel Boone National Forest | 2,835 |
Maine (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Caribou - Speckled Ext | White Mountain National Forest | 5,988 |
New Hampshire (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Carr Mountain | White Mountain National Forest | 17,110 |
| Pemigewasset | White Mountain National Forest | 32,255 |
| Sandwich Range | White Mountain National Forest | 16,797 |
North Carolina (25)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 11,085 |
| Balsam Cone | Pisgah National Forest | 10,591 |
| Bearwallow | Pisgah National Forest | 4,113 |
| Big Indian (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 1,155 |
| Cheoah Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 7,795 |
| Chunky Gal (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 3,336 |
| Craggy Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 2,657 |
| Dobson Knob | Pisgah National Forest | 6,111 |
| Graveyard Ridge (addition) | Pisgah National Forest | 1,958 |
| Harper Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,325 |
| Jarrett Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,485 |
| Laurel Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 5,683 |
| Linville Gorge Addition | Pisgah National Forest | 2,809 |
| Little Indian (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 640 |
| Lost Cove | Pisgah National Forest | 5,944 |
| Mackey Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 5,934 |
| Middle Prong Addition | Pisgah National Forest | 1,852 |
| Overflow Creek | Nantahala National Forest | 3,379 |
| Sam Knob (addition) | Pisgah National Forest | 2,576 |
| Slide Hollow | Pisgah National Forest | 193 |
| South Mills River | Pisgah National Forest | 8,588 |
| Tusquitee Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 13,670 |
| Wesser Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 4,061 |
| Wilson Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 4,863 |
| Woods Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 9,602 |
Pennsylvania (4)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Front | Allegheny National Forest | 7,430 |
| Clarion River | Allegheny National Forest | 3,821 |
| Hearts Content | Allegheny National Forest | 221 |
| Tracy Ridge | Allegheny National Forest | 9,034 |
South Carolina (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Big Mountain | Sumter National Forest | 2,337 |
Tennessee (7)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | Cherokee National Forest | 11,743 |
| Beaver Dam Creek | Cherokee National Forest | 5,070 |
| Flint Mill Gap | Cherokee National Forest | 9,494 |
| London Bridge Branch | Cherokee National Forest | 3,387 |
| Slide Hollow | Cherokee National Forest | 4,057 |
| Stone Mountain | Cherokee National Forest | 5,367 |
| Upper Bald River | Cherokee National Forest | 9,202 |
Virginia (28)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Adams Peak | George Washington National Forest | 7,135 |
| Bear Creek | Jefferson National Forest | 18,274 |
| Beards Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 7,505 |
| Elliott Knob | George Washington National Forest | 9,380 |
| Garden Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 3,960 |
| Hoop Hole | Jefferson National Forest | 4,652 |
| Hunting Camp Little Wolf Creek | Jefferson National Forest | 8,953 |
| Kelley Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 7,590 |
| Little River | George Washington National Forest | 27,292 |
| Little Wilson Creek Addition B | Jefferson National Forest | 1,725 |
| Mill Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 10,840 |
| Mottesheard (VA) | Jefferson National Forest | 2,596 |
| Mountain Lake Addition A | Jefferson National Forest | 1,469 |
| Mt. Pleasant | George Washington National Forest | 8,933 |
| North Fork Pound | Jefferson National Forest | 4,757 |
| North Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 8,377 |
| Northern Massanutten | George Washington National Forest | 9,444 |
| Oak Knob | George Washington National Forest | 10,882 |
| Oliver Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 13,090 |
| Raccoon Branch | Jefferson National Forest | 4,388 |
| Ramseys Draft Addition | George Washington National Forest | 12,781 |
| Saint Marys Addition | George Washington National Forest | 1,454 |
| Seng Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 6,428 |
| Shawvers Run Addition | Jefferson National Forest | 1,927 |
| Skidmore | George Washington National Forest | 5,641 |
| Southern Massanutten | George Washington National Forest | 11,985 |
| The Priest | George Washington National Forest | 5,737 |
| Three Sisters | George Washington National Forest | 8,149 |
West Virginia (9)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Cranberry Addition | Monongahela National Forest | 11,123 |
| Cranberry Glades Botanical Area | Monongahela National Forest | 785 |
| Dolly Sods Roaring Plain | Monongahela National Forest | 13,392 |
| Dry River (WV) | George Washington National Forest | 7,331 |
| Falls Of Hills Creek | Monongahela National Forest | 6,925 |
| Little Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 8,172 |
| Mcgowan Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 10,504 |
| Middle Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 19,020 |
| Mottesheard (WV) | Jefferson National Forest | 3,964 |
References (6)
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
- iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
- Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
- Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
- Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.