GENTIANACE.E GENTIAN FAMILY 



Sabatia gracilis, (Michx.) Salisb. 



Pink 



Marsh Pink. 

 July-August 



Sabatia: Dedicated, it is said, to W. L. Sabbati, an early 



Italian botanist. 

 Gracilis: Latin for slender. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: shores of ponds "and in wet 

 places also under fresh water conditions." 



THE PLANT: erect; ten inches high, more or less, the stem 

 rather slender; without hairs. 



THE LEAVES: alternate; linear, oval or ovate; without 

 hairs on either surface; usually obtuse at the apex; sessile 

 and slightly clasping at the base; entire; mid-rib prominent 

 below. 



THE FLOWERS: solitary, at the ends of the branches and 

 peduncles; mostly five-parted. Albinos have been found. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



These beautiful, star-like flowers, with their spreading 

 pointed, pink petals, yellow centre, and white, two-cleft 

 style, deserve their reputation, of being one of Nantucket's 

 most popular wild flowers. Their very pinkness as the 

 flowers shine among the taller grasses, near a pond's border, 

 gives an alluring touch of colour. 



300 



