Geographical distribution and phenotypic characteristics of Lythrum salicaria L. growing in Nineveh Governorate /Iraq

Lythrum salicaria L. was reported as a new record in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. The distribution and localities of Lythrum salicaria, also known as purple loosestrife, were ascertained using digital categorization. The spectral reflection properties of the Lythrum salicaria samples were measured using an ASD field spectroradiometer. The spectroscopic analysis was performed on these materials using a full range wavelength scale of roughly 400 to 500.The phenotypic analysis revealed that Lythrum salicaria was an upright herb with whorled leaves and a woody, four-sided stem. The surface soil layer contains a broad, lignifying root with several branches. A soft down coated the plants. The lance-shaped leaves were rounded at the base or heart-shaped, hairy, sessile, and inserted directly onto the stems. They were either opposite or grouped in whorls of three leaves, four to seven cm long.Mature plants featured multiple stems growing from a single rootstock; the smaller stems were quadrangular, while the bigger ones had three to five longitudinal ridges. The plants reached a height of 170cm. Bright purple blooms with five to six petals were seen during the sampling period. The flowers remained on the branches all the summer season, forming dense spikes 35cm long. The calyx is a ribbed, hairy, somewhat reddish tube.