Rhexia virginica L.

Virginia Meadow Beauty; Handsome Harry; Wing Stem Meadow Beauty

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Virginia Meadow Beauty is a native herbaceous perennial in the Melastome family (Melastomataceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Virginia Meadow Beauty occurs along streams, in seeps, in wet roadside ditches, around ponds, and in low forests. It has a fibrous root system and enlarged tubers are produced at the ends of some roots. The stems grow from one to three feet in height, and are branch near the top. The stem is four angled with the sides nearly equal at mid-stem. The angles of the stems are winged. Leaves are opposite and toothed. They are oval to elliptic in outline. Flowers are produced in cymes. Each flower has four dark purple or lavender petals and eight stamens with large bright yellow curved anthers. The petals fall of easily, and individual flowers only last one day. The fruit is a capsule that is shaped like a vase. Virginia Meadow Beauty is one of the most widespread species of Rhexia in Alabama. A similar species, Pale Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana Linnaeus), can also be found statewide. The two species often grow together. Pale Meadow Beauty is a small plant, usually only reaching one foot in height. It has a stem with unequal sides—two are narrow and two are wide. The leaves are much narrower than in Virginia Meadow Beauty and the flowers are pale lavender or white in color. Virginia Meadow Beauty is available from some wildflower nurseries, and is easily grown from seed. It can be grown in a bog garden or rain garden. It prefers partial sun and organic soil that is constantly moist.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW+ (NWPL)

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