The Known Range of Phlox wilcoxiana 



E. R. BoGuscH 



When the writer first described Phlox wilcoxiana, the general 

 range was stated as being on the Gulf coastal plain of Texas. 

 At that time the complete distribution was still not known. 

 Subsequent studies have revealed that although the greatest 

 abundance centers around the type locality, a few specimens 

 have been collected beyond this region. These were from sta- 

 tions either far to the west or to the east and do not necessarily 

 imply the presence of the species in intermediate positions 

 within these extremes. 



Phlox wilcoxiana is entirely a Texas species. The area on 

 which it occurs in greatest abundance, when compared in size 

 with some of the smaller adjoining states, is found to roughly 

 equal that of the state of Mississippi. 



The flowering period is usually in March and April, but 

 favorable seasons occasionally produce flowers as early as the 

 middle of February, and continued mild weather may permit a 

 few plants to remain until the latter part of June. The type 

 locality was revisited in the summer of 1929 and two good speci- 

 mens found in moist shaded situations. All plants of this species 

 on exposed slopes were fully matured. When in their prime, the 

 plants cover many miles of sandy hillsides in a glow of red, 

 which is, aside from other characters, a recognizable feature of 

 the species. 



Distribution data is based upon two sources; the one is first 

 hand field experience distributed over parts of five years, and 

 the other data is taken from notations on specimens contained 

 in the herbarium of the United States National Museum, the 

 herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the herbarium of 

 the University of Illinois, and from sheets of the writer's pri- 

 vate collection. 



Neuces and Kleberg Counties mark the absolute southern 

 limit of the species. From here the line goes northwest to Frio 

 County, then turns northeast through the southeastern corner 

 of Medina, Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Travis Counties. Here it 

 turns northward to southern Milam County and then runs 

 directly east to the northern end of Jasper County. From this 

 point the eastern limit is marked by a line which runs due south 

 until it is terminated by the Gulf Coast. 



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