Purple loostrife in Ecuador? Say it ain't so!

I am really sincerely hoping that this is not the dreaded invasive fiend purple loostrife, just a harmless flower that looks very similar. Please tell me I'm wrong, because the way things grow here is already alarming without adding invasors to the mix.

 

Your photo attachment didn't work.

 

should be working now.

 

I'm afraid I can't tell you what it is, but it's definitely not purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

 

phew.

 

Cleome hassleriana?

 

oh yeah, maybe. Thanks!

 

Funny, that crossed my mind too, but I thought, "No, must be something really exotic..."!

 

same here - i'm not used to seeing familiar plants here.

 

that's definitely cleome! and that can be pretty invasive, too!!

 

Cleome is native to South America; whether that particular species is native in Ecuador I don't know though.