Illustration by Debbie McNiel 



PHLOX ANDICOLA 

 PLAINS PHLOX 



Plains Phlox is a perennial with loosely tufted stems that are 4- 1 cm high arising from creeping rhizomes. The 5-8 pairs 

 of opposite, linear leaves have prominent midveins and whitish bases and are 10-25 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide and come to 

 a sharp point. Foliage is glabrous to sparsely hairy. Stems are white. 1-5 white flowers are borne at the stem tips. Each 

 flower has 5 petals and a tubular corolla. The calyx is also tubular, with 5 lobes, tangled long hairs, and 6-1 1 mm length. 

 Flowering in May-early June. 



Distinguished from PHLOX HOODII by leaf length over 10 mm long, and from P. ALYSSIFOLIA by leaf width less than 2 

 mm wide. Flowers are needed for positive identification, and hybridization between these species is reported elsewhere in 

 the range. 



