- Contact information
-
For information on Lakes in Wisconsin, contact:
- DNR Lake
Division of Water
Bureau of Water Quality
- Aquatic Invasive Species Contacts
Purple Loosestrife - Mercer Lake
- Status
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Verified
- Date First Found
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8/13/2012
- Location First Found
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3 clumps of plants on either side of Dock. Growing in 1/2 inch of water. Rooted between the rocks for shoreline control
- Latitude and Longitude
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45.870100,
-89.818705
- Original Extent
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A Few Plants
About
Purple Loosestrife
Purple loosestrife is native to Europe and Asia. After being introduced to North America, it managed to escape the specialized insects and diseases that keep it in check in its native lands. Free from these natural controls, purple loosestrife gained a competitive edge over our native wetland plants. This advantage, along with prolific seed production and a large, hardy growth, has allowed purple loosestrife to invade many of our wetlands to the near total exclusion of most other vegetation;; it literally shades everything else out.