Sabatia kennedyana is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name Plymouth rose gentian. It is native to eastern North America. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Nova Scotia,SpeciesAtRisk.ca: Sabatia kennedyana in Nova Scotia (coastal plain flora) Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia,Sabatia kennedyana. Center for Plant Conservation. North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Distribution Sabatia kennedyana grows in wetlands, particularly lakes and ponds on the Atlantic coastal plain.Sorrie, B. A. 1994. Coastal plain ponds in New England. Biological Conservation 68: 225–233. It grows in areas with fluctuating water levels and other forms of natural disturbance, such as ice scour, which eliminate competing vegetation.Keddy, P.A. and I. C. Wisheu. 1989. Ecology, biogeography and conservation of coastal plain plants: some general principles from the study of Nova Scotia wetlands. Rhodora 91: 72-94.Hill, N. and P.A. Keddy. 1992. Predicting numbers of rarities from habitat variables: coastal plain plants of Nova Scotian lakeshores. Ecology 73: 1852-1859. It is a poor competitor with other plants.Wisheu, I. C. and P.A. Keddy. 1994. The low competitive ability of Canada's Atlantic coastal plain shoreline flora: implications for conservation. Biological Conservation 68: 247-252.
Description Sabatia kennedyana is a perennial herb with stolons tipped with basal rosettes of leaves. The flower is pink with a white or yellow center. It may be 5 centimeters wide, with 9 to 11 petals.
Taxonomy Sabatia kennedyana was considered by Ahles to be a variety of Sabatia dodecandra. It was named after George Golding Kennedy
Conservation Sabatia kennedyana is threatened by shoreline development, recreational activity, off-road vehicles, construction of hydroelectric dams, pollution, and poaching.
References
External links USDA Plants Profile of Sabatia kennedyana (Plymouth rose gentian)