- any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family, with leafy stems and loose spikes of white, rose, or yellow flowers
- any of a genus (Lythrum) of plants of the loosestrife family, esp. purple loosestrife (L. salicaria) with spikes of purple flowers
Origin of loosestrife
loose, verb + strife: used as translated, translation of Classical Latin lysimachia from Classical Greek lysimacheios, understood as “ending strife” from lyein, to loosen, solve (see lysis) + mach?, battle: from its assumed soothing properties, but probably after Lysimachia, city in Thrace, or Lysimachos, king of Thrace, its founder designating a family (Lythraceae, order Myrtales) of chiefly tropical dicotyledonous plants, including henna
