Pelton's rose-gentian

It is an annual plant growing to about 12 cm tall. The leaves are produced in opposite pairs, lanceolate, 5–15 mm long and 2–3 mm broad. The flowers are about 3.5 cm diameter, with a five-lobed corolla, purplish-pink with a pale yellow center, and five yellow stamens. The fruit is a capsule about 1 cm long.

Sabatia arkansana is found exclusively in shale and igneous glades that become wet in winter but are dry from summer through fall. Within these unique micro-habitats the plant only exists in confined flat areas along the floodplains of small streams that often dry up during the hotter months of the year. It may also be found in similar conditions near seeping springs. Due to the plant being an annual, the population numbers fluctuate every year. At the first known site, called the Womble Formation site, between 200 and over 1000 individuals were found between 2001 and 2004. The other site showed similar results. Similar habitats in the neighbouring areas of Pulaski County, Garland County and Montgomery County were searched in 2003 and 2004 in hopes of finding other sites, but none were found.

== References ==