Purple loosestrife is a perennial plant that can reach 1 to 1.5 meters high. Its stems are reddish purple and its cross section is square. Its flowers are also reddish purple. Purple loosestrife fruits are small capsules containing seeds. Their seeds are spread by wind, water, wild animals and humans. They were introduced to North America by soil used as ballast for European sailing ships and early settlers. Additionally, beekeepers used it as an important source of nectar. Currently, purple loosestrife is spreading across Canada, but it is now under control. There are many likely methods of introducing purple loosestrife. The first probable method is that of the ground used as ballast on European sailing ships. Since being released into North America, they have spread by wind across Canada. Additionally, early European settlers were given plants for their gardens. The second likely method is beekeepers' use of purple loosestrife to obtain more nectar. Purple Loosestrife was introduced to Canada by beekeepers and early settlers. Purple loosestrife reduces biodiversity by degrading natural habitats such as wetlands and quickly replaces native vegetation. They block the growth of native plants by forming dense mats with their roots. If native vegetation is replaced by purple loosestrife, this will also impact animals. In wetlands, hundreds of species depend on native vegetation for shelter, food and reproduction to survive. They will lose their habitat to the invasion of purple loosestrife, as none of them rely solely on purple loosestrife for a food source or shelter. Since they change many factors of the invaded ecosystem, most of the flora and fauna will be affected and this will result in the reduction of the b...... middle of paper ...... oratory garden even the government lets us buy them for gardening. Instead, we should be able to recognize and report purple loosestrife in wildlife to protect biodiversity. Works Cited “Purple Loosestrife: An Exotic Threat” http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/bb/ documents/bb-45.pdf “Purple Loosestrife | Ontario Invasive Species Awareness Program » http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/plants-terrestrial/purple-loosestrife/ “Aquatic and Wetland Invasive Alien Plants: Purple Loosestrife” http://purpleloosestrife. org/uploads/fs_purpleloosestrifeplel.pdf “Manitoba Purple Loosestrife Project” http://purpleloosestrife.org/ “Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)” http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/ lr/@mnr/@biodiversity/documents/ document/stdprod_104404.pdf “Purple loosestrife” http://www.lakeheadca.com/lsstrife.htm