fringed meadowbeauty, Rhexia petiolata

Rhexia belongs to the family Melastomataceae. The family is tropical, with only one genus venturing north. Rhexia gets all the way to Nova Scotia. But not fringed meadowbeauty, which you have to be in the South to see. And then, like me, you might not know what you're looking at? Turns out there are two species with flowers that look just like this. The plants, including fringed leaves, and habitat are also much the same. The other one, Rhexia nuttallii, has glandular hairs on the hypanthia. Odds are I encountered those too, and just didn't know enough to check out the hypanthia, which are the receptacles that hold the petals and other structures of the flowers. If you see fringed meadowbeauty, you will be in AL, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TX, or VA. Wakulla Co FL, 7/8/18. Melastome family, Melastomataceae.