Lysimachia ciliata

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Speciesbox

|name = Fringed loosestrife

|image = Lysimachia ciliata Prague 2013 2.jpg

|image_caption = Flower

|genus = Lysimachia

|species = ciliata

|authority = L.

|synonyms = Steironema ciliatum
Steironema pumilum

}}

Lysimachia ciliata, the fringed loosestrife, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is an erect herbaceous perennial growing to {{convert|120|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall and {{convert|60|cm|0|abbr=on}} broad, with opposite, simple leaves, and smooth green stems. The star-shaped yellow flowers are borne in midsummer.{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}} It is native to North America, including most of southern Canada and most of the United States except for the southwest. This plant is notable in that it is one of the few species of Lysimachia to bear elaiophores, that is, to offer oil instead of nectar as a reward to pollinators. It is pollinated in the northern part of its range by the specialist oil bee Macropis nuda, a native bee species whose survival depends upon this host plant.M.A. Buckner, B.N. Danforth (2022) Climate-driven range shifts of a rare specialist bee, Macropis nuda (Melittidae), and its host plant, Lysimachia ciliata (Primulaceae). Global Ecology and Conservation37: e02180, ISSN 2351-9894, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02180

It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant. It can be aggressive, but new suckers can be removed easily to keep plant size under control. The most common cultivars of L. ciliata include:

• L. ciliata 'Firecracker'
• L. ciliata 'Purpurea'

'Firecracker'{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/60229/Lysimachia-ciliata-Firecracker/Details | title = Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker' | publisher = RHS | accessdate = 29 October 2020}} has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.