Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Moneywort

(Lysimachia nummularia)

galery
en

Description

Lysimachia nummularia is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. Its common names include moneywort, creeping jenny, herb twopence and twopenny grass. It is a vigorous, prostrate, evergreen perennial growing to 5 cm (2 in) in height and spreading rapidly and indefinitely by stem-rooting. It has rounded leaves, and cup-shaped yellow flowers 2 cm in diameter, in summer. It is particularly associated with damp or even wet areas, though in cultivation it will tolerate drier conditions. It is hardy, surviving lows of −15 °C (5 °F) (RHS H5). It is native to Europe, but has been introduced to North America, where it is considered an invasive species in some areas. It aggressively spreads in favorable conditions, such as low wet ground or near ponds. It is moderately difficult to remove by hand pulling. Any tiny piece left behind will regrow. The Latin specific epithet nummularia means "like a coin", referring to the shape of the leaves; hence the common names, such as "moneywort", which also references coins. The cultivar 'Aurea' (golden creeping Jenny) It is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for groundcover where the range of its growth can be limited. It is also suitable as a bog garden or aquatic marginal plant. has yellow leaves, and is somewhat less aggressive than the species. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Lysimachia is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was later merged into the Primulaceae. Lysimachia species often have yellow flowers, and grow vigorously. They tend to grow in damp conditions. Several species within Lysimachia are commonly called loosestrife, although this name is also used for plants within the genus Lythrum. The genus is named in honor of Lysimachus, a king of ancient Sicily, who is said to have calmed a mad ox by feeding it a member of the genus. Lysimachia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some butterflies and moths, including the dot moth, grey pug, lime-speck pug, small angle shades, and v-pug. Bees of the genus Macropis are specialized to pollinate oil-producing Lysimachia plants. These bees use exclusively Lysimachia floral oils for building their nests and provisioning cells.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order:Ericales
Family:Primulaceae
Genus:Lysimachia
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