Bartonia virginica is species of flowering plant in Gentianaceae. It is the commonly called yellow screwstem or yellow bartonia and it is an annual species with small pale green to yellow flowers.[2]

Bartonia virginica
line drawing of Bartonia virginica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Bartonia
Species:
B. virginica
Binomial name
Bartonia virginica
Britton, Sterns & Poggenb
Synonyms[1]
  • Alsine saginaCrantz
  • Andrewsia autumnalis (Pursh) Spreng.
  • Bartonia moseri (Steud. & Hochst. ex Griseb.) B.L.Rob. & Greenm. ex Gilg
  • Bartonia pentandra Barton
  • Bartonia tenella Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Bartonia virginica f. abortiva Vict.
  • Centaurella autumnalis Pursh
  • Centaurella autumnalis var. brachysepala Griseb.
  • Centaurella moseri Steud. & Hochst. ex Griseb.
  • Centaurella paniculata Michx.
  • Centaurium autumnale Pers.
  • Sagina virginica L.

Description

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Bartonia virginica is an annual plant,[3] that typically has simple stems that are wiry and erect. The stems are 1–4 dm tall, with opposite, strongly ascending branches. The leaves are scale-like usually opposite. The flowers are arranging in racemose or paniculate inflorescence, which have commonly opposite, very upright branches and pedicels. Each flower is 3–4 mm long with lance-subulate shaped sepals. The petals are oblong in shape and usually have denticulate margins and are abruptly narrowed to a rounded or obtuse, often mucronate tip. The anthers are minutely apiculate. It flowers late summer. The diploid (2n) chromosome count is fifty-two.[4][5]

Habitat

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Bartonia virginica grows in sphagnum bogs and wet meadows, where it is found in acid bogs with sphagnum or Polytrichum mosses.[5]

Distribution

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The native distribution of Bartonia virginica is eastern North America and is centered around the Atlantic coastal plain, with scattered inland populations.[5] It has been found in Quebec and Nova Scotia of Canada to the US states of Wisconsin south to Florida and Louisiana. It reaches the most western part of its range in eastern Minnesota, where it is very rare and listed as endangered, having been recorded in Goodhue and Anoka counties in white cedar swamps and peat bogs.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Bartonia virginica (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  2. ^ "Bartonia virginica (Yellow Bartonia): Minnesota Wildflowers". www.minnesotawildflowers.info. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  3. ^ "Plants Profile for Bartonia virginica (yellow screwstem)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  4. ^ "Bartonia virginica (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  5. ^ a b c d Barbara Coffin; Lee Pfannmuller (1988). Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. U of Minnesota Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-8166-1689-3.