Section 286.216a - Definitions; sale, distribution, or use of purple loosestrife(1) As used in this section: (a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or any other legal entity.(b) "Purple loosestrife" means a nonnative member of the genus Lythrum, or hybrid of that genus.(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in this state, a person shall not sell, offer to sell, or distribute seed from purple loosestrife.(3) In this state, a person shall not sell at retail or offer to sell at retail any nonnative cultivars of the genus Lythrum, or hybrids of that genus, except for the cultivars of Lythrum virgatum commercially known as rose queen, the rocket, morden pink, morden gleam, morden rose, dropmore purple, or columbia pink.(4) As of January 1, 1997, retail sales of purple loosestrife are not allowed in this state except for cultivars developed and recognized to be sterile and approved by the director of the department of agriculture.(5) Notwithstanding subsection (2), (3), or (4), the department of agriculture may issue a permit authorizing a person to conduct research using purple loosestrife.Add. 1995, Act 182, Eff. 3/28/1996.