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Melastomataceae
Rhexia

not marked as a favorite taxon Rhexia mariana Linnaeus var. exalbida Michaux. Common name: White Meadow-beauty. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Wet pine flatwoods and savannas, wet meadows, ditches, and wet roadsides. Distribution: NC south to FL and west to e. TX.

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: The white flowers and linear leaves are diagnostic.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Reported to merge into R. mariana var. mariana from FL westward, but var. exalbida appears quite distinct at species rank.

Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA10, RAB, Tx; = Rhexia lanceolata Walter — S, S13; < Rhexia mariana L. — Fl4, WH3; < Rhexia mariana L. var. mariana — GW2, K4, Kral & Bostick (1969). Basionym: Rhexia mariana L. var. exalbida Michx. 1803 "Urbasionym:" Rhexia lanceolata Walter 1788

Links to other floras: = Rhexia mariana var. exalbida - FNA10

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image #1 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Alan Cressler: Rhexia mariana var. exalbida, roadside, Cedar Crossing Road, Toombs County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Jennifer Peterson | Original Image ⭷
image #17 of Rhexia mariana var. exalbida© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, colonial perennial of wet pine flatwoods, savannas, meadows, ditches and wet roadsides.

Stems: Stems 4-angled with unequal faces, usually unbranched and with coarse, stiff hairs.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, short-petiolate, narrowly lance-shaped to linear, 3/4-1 1/2 in. long, 3-veined, margins with hair-tipped teeth, sparsely hairy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in few-flowered, open clusters; white to pinkish, less than 1 in. wide, consisting of 4 petals arising from a smooth or sparsely hairy, urn-shaped tube and 8 stamens bearing curved, yellow anthers.

Fruits: Fruit a round capsule, less than 1/4 in. wide, enclosed in the urn-shaped tube.

Comments: R. mariana var. exalbida is distinguished from R. mariana var. mariana by its narrower leaves (less than 1/4 in. wide vs. 1/4-3/4 in. wide in var. mariana); also, the mature calyx tube (hypanthium) in var. mariana is prominently glandular-hairy and sparsely to not so in var. exalbida.

Height: to 14 in.

plant sale text: White meadow-beauty is a diminutive perennial with fine textured foliage and four-petaled white flowers accented with long yellow stamens. This Southeastern native can be found in wet habitats in the coastal plain and does well in sunny moist sites that mimic its natural home. Under the right conditions this plant will spread by underground runners. Keep this in mind when choosing a planting site and give it some room to roam.

bloom table text:

description: Erect, colonial perennial of wet pine flatwoods, savannas, meadows, ditches and wet roadsides.

stems: Stems 4-angled with unequal faces, usually unbranched and with coarse, stiff hairs.

leaves: Leaves opposite, short-petiolate, narrowly lance-shaped to linear, 3/4-1 1/2 in. long, 3-veined, margins with hair-tipped teeth, sparsely hairy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in few-flowered, open clusters; white to pinkish, less than 1 in. wide, consisting of 4 petals arising from a smooth or sparsely hairy, urn-shaped tube and 8 stamens bearing curved, yellow anthers.

fruits: Fruit a round capsule, less than 1/4 in. wide, enclosed in the urn-shaped tube.

comments: R. mariana var. exalbida is distinguished from R. mariana var. mariana by its narrower leaves (less than 1/4 in. wide vs. 1/4-3/4 in. wide in var. mariana); also, the mature calyx tube (hypanthium) in var. mariana is prominently glandular-hairy and sparsely to not so in var. exalbida.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southeastern United States



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