POLEMONIUM FAMILY POLEMONIACEAE 
PRAIRIE PHLOX 
Phlox pilosa L. 
The Polemonium family is noted for its large proportion of 
beautiful flowers, many of which are cultivated in gardens and 
greenhouses. Its members are distributed nearly all over the 
world but are especially nu- 
merous in western North 
ae ie America. The Phlox are pol- 
Oh linated largely by certain 
ens a butterflies. 
VA No plant adds color to the 
i = patches of prairie along rail- 
roads and other waste places 
or open grassy areas in wood- 
land, more effectively than 
does the Prairie Phlox. It is 
> found from Connecticut to 
I | Ontario and Manitoba, south 
\ to Florida and Texas, bloom- 
\ ing from May to July. 
} The plant is 1-2 feet high 
| and produces large clusters 
of pink or purple, faintly 
fragrant flowers. Stem and 
leaves are covered with 
soft hairs and the 
flowers are protected 
from unwelcome creep- 
ing insects by sticky 
glands which cover the 
calyx. The calyx lobes 
are longer than the tube. 
Rarely specimens are found with white flowers. 
The Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima L., is quite similar but 
taller, 1-3 feet high, and grows in wet as well as dry places. It is 
smooth or nearly so throughout and has rather firm leaves that are 
long pointed at the tip and narrowed at the base. The calyx teeth 
are usually shorter than the tube. The corolla is pink or whitish 
and the lobes are entire or sometimes broadly notched at the end. 
This is an excellent species for perennial gardens. 
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