Loosestrife.Lysimachia quadrifolia.
Found in moist grounds, and woods, in June and July.
The single stalk, from 12 to 18 inches in height, is hairy and faintly ridgy, and light green in color.
The leaf is oval and pointed at both ends; from 2 to 3 inches long, with a strong midrib; the upper surface smooth to the touch, the lower hairy, and the color yellow-green. The leaves are set close on the stalk in whorls of fours and fives, with a single pair occurring near the foot of the stalk.
The divisions of the flower are 5, long-pointed, fine in texture, and light yellow, with a few tiny red streaks, and a bright red marking at their base; the 5 erect, pale yellow stamens, tipped with tawny, are united at the foot in a collar; the calyx-parts are 5, narrow, pointed, and light green. The flowers, set on thread-like stems spring from the angles of the leaves,—a flower for each leaf.
As many as six or seven whorls of leaves, four often accompanied by flowers, are found on a single stalk.