Mystery Plant ID & Goldfish Race Bonus Update!

I snagged this plant from a pond and have no idea what it is, and it recently began to flower. Any idea?

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Sidenote, this is also the tank that I'm going to be using for the great pond race, and it currently has a single shubunkin fry from the GSAS auction. He's grown so much!

Hi bronzefighter,

That could be loosestife (Lysimachia vulgaris) a noxious weed in King County and I believe also the State of Washington. If it is then it is a very invasive weed typically found along waterways, lakes, and ditches; compost with care.

Seattle_Aquarist wrote:Hi bronzefighter,

That could be loosestife (Lysimachia vulgaris) a noxious weed in King County and I believe also the State of Washington.  If it is then it is a very invasive weed typically found along waterways, lakes, and ditches; compost with care.

Possibly...though I'm looking at pictures of Garden and Purple Loosestrife and the flowers grow in a different arrangement. Maybe Decodon verticillatus aka Swamp Loosestrife?

Hi bronzefighter,

Possible; and you are correct that the flowers are the best way to identify the species. It is difficult to make out the flower shape, pistels, and stamen in the picture but that is the proper way to identify the species. Don't go by the arrangement (quantity or density) of the flowers because that can vary substantially depending upon light intensity and duration.

Here is a purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in low light condition.
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That looks extremely similar, thanks! And this stuff does grow like an invasive weed, though the little shubunkin(who my wife has dubbed Wolfie) seems to enjoy it. I suppose once summer is done and this tank is torn down I'll have to dispose of it properly then. Thanks for your help Roy!