| IDENTIFICATION |
| Common Name: |
LONGLEAF PHLOX |
| Scientific Name: |
Phlox longifolia |
| Derivation: |
Greek: phlox = flame, referring to the brightly colored flowers. |
| Family: |
Phlox - Polemoniaceae |
| Family Characteristics: |
showy, radially symmetrical flowers (can be divided in half any way to produce mirror images) often tubular with 5 flaring lobes; styles (connects stigma to the ovary) 1 with 3 stigmas (pollen-receiving part of the female organ). |
| Species Characteristics: |
hyaline (transparent) membranes between calyx (sepals) lobes folded (keeled). |
| Mature Height: |
to 6 inches. |
| Flower Color: |
pink |
| Petal Number: |
5 |
| Flower Symmetry: |
radial |
| Fruit Type: |
capsule (dry, multi-chambered fruit splitting at maturity). |
| Leaf Type: |
simple (not divided into similar parts), opposite (originating in pairs at the node - joint where the leaf joins the stem). |
| Leaf/Leaflet Shape: |
linear (flat and narrow with parallel margins). |
| ECOLOGY |
| Growth Form: |
herbaceous |
| Life Cycle: |
perennial |
| Class: |
angiosperm (plant with covered seed). |
| SubClass: |
dicot (plants with two seed leaves and netted leaf veins). |
| Season of Bloom: |
late spring to early summer (May - Jun.). |
| Life Zone: |
plains to montane. |
| Habitat: |
roadsides, adobe hills and sagebrush. |
| Eco. Relationships: |
the foliage of Phlox is sometimes eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species and is also a popular food source for groundhogs, rabbits and deer. |
| WEED MANAGEMENT |
| Origin: |
native |
| LANDSCAPING |
| Moisture Requirement: |
low |
| Light Requirement: |
full sun. |
| Soil Requirement: |
dry, rocky; moderate calcium carbonate tolerance. |
Version: 2.4.1 Release Date: June 2010 ©2010 Jefferson County ITS
