W147 

 PHLOXES 



Phlox spp. 



The PJdow genus is entirely confined to the North American con- 

 tinent except for Siberian phlox (P. sibirica), a species which also 

 occurs in Alaska. A few species in the Southeast are low, more or 

 less trailing shrubs or undershrubs, and many of the species are some- 

 what woody at the base. Drummond phlox (P. drwrmnondii} , prob- 

 ably the most commonly cultivated species, and Koemer phlox (P. 

 roem0riana) , both natives of Texas, are annuals ; most of the species 

 are perennial herbs. Genera of the phlox family are found in every 

 State. About 45 species occur in the West, some being diminutive 

 and matlike, others large and bushy. They grow on the plains, in 

 the foothills, and in the high mountains. Phlox, meaning flame (al- 

 luding to showy, brightly colored flowers), was an old Greek name 

 for campion (Lychnis] and was transferred to our American genus 

 by the preeminent Swedish botanist Linnaeus when he wrote his 

 books which revolutionized tl ( e conceptions of the genera and species 

 of plants. 



The majority of western p iloxes occur in open situations, on rather 

 dry and often gravelly or rocky soils, frequently in grass types in 

 full sunlight. Some species, however, are definitely restricted to the 

 forest and shady sites. Phloxes are very showy plants and often 

 grow in masses, blossoming from midspring to midsummer, and re- 

 producing by seed or creeping rootstocks. 



The flowers of phlox are relished by sheep, summer use usually 

 being limited to those parts. The foliage of the species with small 

 and prickly leaves is generally avoided by livestock except, in cer- 

 tain cases, during early spring or when better feed is either un- 

 available or scarce. The palatability of those species with larger 

 and more tender leaves, which are grazed by sheep and occasionally 

 by cattle and horses, is fair. Their matted growth renders some 

 species valuable as soil binders in retarding erosion. The taller 

 species are popular among wild-flower lovers, and many of the low, 

 cushionlike western species are being introduced into cultivation for 

 rockeries, borders, etc. 



Phloxes usually have woody roots or rootstocks and branching 

 stems. Most species have opposite leaves but occasionally the leaves 

 are alternate on the upper stems and, in the case of Roemer phlox, 

 the leaves are regularly alternate. The showy, often fragrant, white, 

 blue, purplish or reddish flowers begin as a slender tube then flare 

 at the top into a five-lobed apex, giving them a salver-shaped struc- 

 ture. The flowers are arranged in clusters (cymes or cymose pan- 

 icles, the central flowers blooming first) , either terminal at the ends 

 of the branches or axillary between the upper leaves and the branch. 

 The five stamens are inserted at different levels on the inside of the 

 showy part of the flower (corolla) ; the floral cup at the base (calyx) 

 is five-lobed and whitish between the lobes. Usually, only a single 

 seed is produced in each cell of the seed capsule; the wet seeds, un- 

 like those of many plants of this family, do not become mucilaginous 

 nor do they emit small spiral threads. 



