Rhexia alifanus Walter

Savannah Meadow Beauty; Smooth Meadow Beauty; Rose Meadow Beauty

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Savannah Meadow Beauty is a native herbaceous perennial in the Melastome family (Melastomataceae). It is native to the southern half of Alabama. Savannah Meadow Beauty grows in pine flatwoods, pine savannas, pitcher plant bogs, seeps, and wet roadside ditches. It is a perennial from an enlarged spongy root. One or more unbranched stems are produced from each root stock. The stems are up to 4 feet in height. The stems are glabrous and yellowish green in color. Leaves are opposite, sessile, lanceolate to elliptic in outline, with entire margins. The leaves are glabrous and often glaucous. The leaf has three main veins from the base—the mid vein and one vein along each margin of the Flowers are produced in branched inflorescences at the ends of the stems. Each flower has 4 rose-purple petals. The petals are glandular beneath. The hypanthium is glandular pubescent with black tipped glands. The fruit is a vase-shaped capsule with numerous seed. Savannah Meadow Beauty is our largest and showiest Meadow Beauty. It is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers full sun and a moist, acidic soil. It can be grown in pool or bog gardens, and makes and excellent companion plant for carnivorous plants.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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