Helonias bullata

Helonias bullata, the swamp pink, is a rare perennial rhizomatous herb native to the eastern United States. The root system is extensive in comparison to the apparent size of the plant on the surface. Blooming in March to May, its fragrant flowers are pink and occur in a cluster at the end a vertical spike which may reach up to 3 ft (0.91 m) in height. It has evergreen, lance-shaped, and parallel-veined leaves ranging from dark green to light yellow green in color that form a basal rosette. Swamp pink is a federally threatened species that was historically distributed from Staten Island, New York to the southern Appalachians. New Jersey supports the majority of the global population, but there are populations in six other states: Delaware; Maryland; Virginia; West Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina, and Georgia. There is also some unverified indication that a population of swamp pink has survived on Staten Island. Populations of swamp pink are on occasion subject to poaching by ......read more on Wikipedia.