Sabatia angularis

Sabatia angularis

The Rosepink or Bitter Bloom (Sabatia angularis (L.) Pursh) is a biennial herbaceous species belonging to the Gentianaceae family.

Systematics –
From the systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Gentianales Order,
Gentianaceae family,
Genus Sabatia,
S. angularis species.
The terms are synonymous:
– Chironia angularis L.;
– Chironia angularis var. latifolia Michx.;
– Sabatia angularis f. albiflora Raf.;
– Sabatia angularis f. albiflora Raf. ex House;
– Sabatia angularis f. angularis;
– Sabatia angularis var. albiflora Raf..

Etymology –
The term Sabatia of the genus was dedicated by Adanson to Liberato Sabbati (1714- ~ 1779) physician and botanist, author of Hortus romanus in 5 volumes published around 1770.
The specific epithet angularis comes from angulus angle: equipped with angular or angular organs.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Sabatia angularis is a plant native to and present in eastern North America and distributed in an area ranging from the State of New York to Ontario, from the south to Florida and Louisiana.
Its habitat is that of organic and rich soils in wooded areas, clearings, fields and prairies.

Description –
Sabatia angularis is an annual or biennial plant that forms a low rosette of leaves during the 1st year and forming an upright plant about 30-60 cm tall and even more during the 2nd year.
The root system is superficial and fibrous.
The central stem has 4 angles, winged and glabrous; in the basal part it is not branched and branched in the opposite way above. The leaves are opposite (up to 3.8 cm long and 2.5 cm wide) are located along the stems; they are medium green in color, glabrous, smooth along the edges and lanceolate to oval-corded in shape. The leaves are sessile or slightly hug the stems. The upper stems end in small flower buds. The pedicels of these flowers are about 1.2 cm long and hairless. When fully open, the individual flowers are 2.5 – 3.5 cm in diameter. Each flower has a corolla with 5 petals, 5 stamens with yellow anthers, an upper ovary with a split style, and a green calyx with 5 linear-lanceolate sepals. The petals are obovate in shape and vary in color from pink to white; they are about double the length of the sepals. In the center of the flower, the bases of the petals range from yellow to greenish yellow, presenting a small 5-sided star. The margins of this star are outlined in dark pink. When receptive to pollen, the anthers turn a bright yellow color.
The flowering period is from mid to late summer. The flowers open during the day and close at night and are fragrant.
The fruits are about 8 mm long single-celled seed capsules; each capsule contains a multitude of tiny seeds that can be blown by the wind or float on water.

Cultivation –
Sabatia angularis is a plant with annual or biennial behavior depending on the climatic conditions.
This plant is harvested in nature for local use as a food and also for medicinal purposes.
For its cultivation it requires a soil that has a certain humidity and, due to its flowers, it can be grown as a cut flower plant.
Propagation occurs by seed. It is recommended to sow when the seed reaches maturity in late summer or early autumn. The sowing should be done in a peaty soil in a humid and shady place or, alternatively, in a pot in a shaded part keeping the soil moist and putting the pot in 2 – 3 cm of water

Customs and Traditions –
Sabatia angularis is a plant grown both for ornamental use, for cut flowers, or even for food and medicinal use.
For food and medicinal use, plants that grow in their natural state are mostly used.
A tonic tea is obtained from the plant.
The plant in nature plays an important role in feeding many insects that use its nectar.

Preparation Method –
Sabatia angularis belongs to those plants once used mostly for food and medicinal use and today mostly for oral use.
The entire green part of the plant is used from which a tea with tonic effects can be obtained.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.