Sabatia campestris (Texas star;[1] also prairie rose-gentian, prairie sabatia, meadow pink[2] [3]) is a species of Sabatia, native to the south-central United States, from Texas east to Mississippi and north to Iowa and Illinois.[1] It is also locally naturalized in New England.[4]
Sabatia campestris is an annual plant growing to 15– tall with pairs of opposite leaves 8–40 mm long and 5–20 mm wide. The flowers are produced in open, long-stalked cymes at the top of the stems; the flower corolla is about 40 mm diameter, with five pink (rarely white) lobes with bluntly acute apices, and a contrasting bright yellow central 'eye'; they are hermaphrodite (contain both male and female organs). The fruit is a capsule containing numerous small seeds.[5] [6]
Its natural habitats are sandy prairies, woodland edges, and stream banks.[7]
Sabatia campestris is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens, where it requires moist soil and partial to full sun.
It can be used for medical purposes as an anti-periodic and tonic. It is also possible to obtain a herbal tea from the plant.[2]