Plymouth rose gentian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plymouth rose gentian |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sabatia
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| Species: |
kennedyana
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The Sabatia kennedyana is a beautiful flowering plant. It is often called the Plymouth rose gentian because of its pretty pink flowers. This plant belongs to the gentian family. You can find it growing in different parts of eastern North America. It lives in places like Nova Scotia in Canada, and in the United States in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Where the Plymouth Rose Gentian Lives
The Plymouth rose gentian loves to grow in wetlands. These are wet areas like the edges of lakes and ponds. It especially likes places along the Atlantic coastal plain. This plant needs areas where the water levels change often. It also likes places that have natural disturbances. For example, ice can scrape the ground in winter. This helps clear away other plants that might compete with the gentian. The Plymouth rose gentian is not very good at competing with other plants for space and sunlight.
What the Plymouth Rose Gentian Looks Like
The Sabatia kennedyana is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and has soft stems, not woody ones. It grows special stems called stolons. These stolons spread out along the ground. At the end of these stolons, new groups of leaves grow in a circle. These leaf circles are called rosettes.
The flowers of this plant are very pretty. They are usually pink. In the middle of the flower, there is often a white or yellow spot. Each flower can be as wide as 5 centimeters, which is about 2 inches. They have many petals, usually between 9 and 11.
Protecting the Plymouth Rose Gentian
The Plymouth rose gentian faces several threats. This means there are things that can harm it or make it disappear. One big problem is when people build things along shorelines. This takes away the plant's natural home. Fun activities like using off-road vehicles near its habitat can also damage the plants. Building hydroelectric dams can change water levels too much. Pollution from different sources can also hurt the plant. Sadly, some people even illegally pick or dig up these plants, which is called poaching. All these things make it harder for the Plymouth rose gentian to survive.
