Phlox. 



POLEMONIACEjE. 



93 



Order LXXIV. POLEMONIACEtE. Juss. The Greek- Valerian Tribe. 



Calyx 5-cleft. Corolla regular, 5-lobed, imbricated or twisted in aestivation. 

 Stamens 5, often unequal, inserted into the tube of the corolla. Ovary 3- 

 celled, with a thick axis and numerous ovules : style single : stigmas three. 

 Capsule 3-celled, loculicidal ; the valves separating from the 3-winged axis. 

 Seeds angular or compressed ; the testa spongy, sometimes mucilaginous and 

 furnished with spiral threads. Embryo straight, in fleshy or horny albumen. 

 — Herbs or rarely somewhat shrubby plants, with alternate or opposite leaves, 

 and panicled, corymbose or clustered flowers. 



1. PHLOX. Linn.; Endl. gen. 3819. phlox. 



\_PMox is the Greek for flame, and is said to have been applied by the ancients to a species of Lychnis : Linnaeus 



transferred the name to this genus.] 



Calyx prismatic ; the segments mostly erect. Corolla salverform ; the limb flat, 5-lobed : 

 tube long, more or less curved. Stamens very unequal, inserted about the middle of the 

 tube of the corolla. Ovary with a single ovule in each cell. Capsule globose -ovate, 3- 

 seeded. Seeds plano-convex. — Perennial herbs ; the leaves mostly opposite and sessile. 

 Flowers more or less corymbose-paniculate. 



1. Phlox divaricata, Linn. Divaricate Phlox. 



Stem pubescent, decumbent, with spreading branches ; leaves oval-lanceolate or lanceolate- 

 ovate, the upper ones alternate ; panicles loose, few-flowered ; lobes of the corolla obcordate ; 

 teeth of the calyx subulate-linear. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 152 ; Bot. mag. t. 163 ; Michx. fl. 1. 

 p. 144 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 150 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 248 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 229 ; Beck, bot. p. 247 ; 

 Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 129 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 72. 



Root creeping. Stems numerous, about a foot long, spreading and some of them prostrate, 

 with erect branches. Leaves an inch and a half long and 5-8 lines wide, thin, sparingly 

 hairy ; some of them obtuse, others rather acute at the base ; the uppermost almost clasping 

 and often alternate. Panicles irregular, usually trichotomous with spreading divisions. 

 Segments of the calyx at first erect, finally spreading. Corolla bluish purple ; the tube about 

 three-fourths of an inch long, slightly curved. 



Banks of rivers, mostly in rich damp soils : northern and western counties. Fl. May, 

 Fr. July. 



