5. Sabatia macrophylla Hooker, Compan. Bot. Mag. 1: 171. 1836. (as Sabbatia).
[E]
Large-leaved sabatia
Herbs perennial, not stoloniferous. Stems several, clustered, terete, 5–14 dm, branching opposite throughout. Leaves all cauline at flowering time; blade lanceolate to ovate-oblong or ovate, 2.5–6(–8.5) cm × 5–30(–45) mm. Inflorescences corymboid dichasia of compact cymules; pedicels 1–5 mm. Flowers 5-merous; calyx tube campanulate, 1–2 mm, mid- and commissural veins about equally prominent, not ridged or with low, narrow ridges, lobes triangular to linear-subulate, 0.1–3 mm; corolla white or cream throughout, tube 2–4 mm, lobes oblong-oblanceolate, 4–7(–9) × 2–3(–4) mm, apex rounded to obtuse; anthers recurving.
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): se United States.
The inflorescences of Sabatia macrophylla are nearly flat-topped and usually contain more flowers than those of other Sabatia species. The relatively small, closely spaced flowers give this species a distinctive aspect. It further differs from S. difformis in its glaucous stems and leaves.
Sabatia macrophylla is restricted to central and southern Georgia, northern Florida, and southern Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, mostly but not exclusively (in Georgia) near the Gulf Coast. The range of var. macrophylla extends farther west than that of var. recurvans.
