Purple Loosestrife Essay

The purple loosestrife, a plant that is native to Europe and Asia, was brought to North America in the early 19th century. It most likely came when its seeds were included in soil used as a ballast in European sailing ships and discarded in NorthAmerica after they were done using them. (Ballast means heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airplane). The plant was also used as a medical treatment to diarrhea, dysentery (infection of the intestines resulting into severe diarrhea), bleeding, wounds, ulcers (an open break in the skin often caused by a cut of some sort) and sores. At the time, it was very useful, but not anymore. Subtitle (Where was it First Introduced?)
The purple loosestrife was first introduced to the Atlantic coast of North America and from there it spread west to all the provinces of Canada and all the states of America except Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii. Subtitle (Where Does it Grow?)
This plant grows near rivers and ditches. Sounds like a normal plant right, but it is not! This plant is highly invasive because of the effect it has n biodiversity. Because of the way it reduces biodiversity all over North America. Now the problem was that purple loosestrife is very hardy perennial plant,
The way that the purple loosestrife is able to do this is because it forms dense stands with thick mats of roots that can spread over large areas degrading habitat for many native birds, insects, and many other species. Many species such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fish and mammals rely on a healthy wetland environment for their survival. All these species are part of biodiversity and if the purple loosestrife degrades their way of survival, then how are these species suppose to survive? Also the purple loosestrife reduces biodiversity by crowding out native species. Purple loosestrife are reducing