Rhexia mariana

Rhexia mariana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Melastomataceae
Genus:	Rhexia
Species:	R. mariana
Binomial name
Rhexia mariana L.
Natural range of Rhexia mariana from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: Maryland meadowbeauty

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain, Rhexia mariana has occurred in titi swamps, pine-saw palmetto flatwoods, sedgy swales in ancient dunes, shaded areas adjacent to cypress ponds, river floodplain forests, a clearing by cypress-titi swamp, pine flatwoods, seepage bogs, pond margins, saw palmetto savanna bogs, open lake flats, live oak-longleaf pine woodlands, mixed hardwood/cabbage palm hammocks, turkey oak/longleaf pine scrubs and boggy seepage slopes. It has been observed in disturbed sites such as railroad banks bordering low pinelands, moist roadside ditches, secondary grazed upland hammocks, and bulldozed slash pine-saw palmetto flatwoods (FSU Herbarium). Soil types include white sand, sandy peat, loamy sand, sandy loam and loam (FSU Herbarium). Associated species include Rhexia cubensis, Eleocharis melanocarpa, Ilex, Andropogon, Pinus palustris, Panicum, Hyptis, Eriocaulon, Aletris, Sabatia bartamii, Manisuris rugosa, Rhynchospora, Myrica, Magnolia virginiana, Persea borbonia, Smilax, Liatris spicata, Hypericum gymnathum, Juncus, and sweetgum (FSU Herbarium).

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Rhexia mariana at Archbold Biological Station (Deyrup 2015):

Apidae: Bombus impatiens

Halictidae: Augochloropsis anonyma, A. metallica

References and notes

Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.