Meadow-beauties
What are they?
Meadow-beauties are members of a largely tropical family of plants. Though a very important family of mostly trees and shrubs in tropical countries, only a small number of herbaceous perennials occur northward into temperate climes. Members of this family usually have fairly showy, four-petaled flowers.
Where are they found?
Meadow-beauties are colorful plants of mostly open, sunny places in marshes, damp meadows and the fresher parts of saltmarshes.
Identification
Separating the two common species is straightforward and based on leaf shape and flower color. The rarer species need attention to growth style and the shape of the sepals.
Maryland Meadow-beauty Rhexia mariana
Widespread in damp meadows and other open, wetland areas. Flowers usually very pale pink, almost white. Flowers July to September.
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Creeping Meadow-beauty Rhexia ventricosa
A localized species, scattered in a few locations in damp, sandy places. Flowers July to September. Differs from other species in its unwinged stems and in having a creeping root system. Leaves somewhat intermediate between those of Maryland and Virginia Meadow-beauties.
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not winged |
a creeping root |
Virginia Meadow-beauty Rhexia virginica
Widespread in damp meadows and other open, wetland areas. Leaves relatively broad and flowers rich, deep pink. Flowers July to September.
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Awned Meadow-beauty Rhexia aristosa
A southern species, currently known from just two locations in New Jersey, one of which is an unprotected site in Cape May County. Flowers July to September. Easily identified by the awned tips to the sepals, noticeable both in flower and in fruit.
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awned sepals |