Phlox alaskensis : Alaskan Phlox

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)

Genera: Phlox (Phlox) (Gk. phlox= a flame; referring to the brilliant colours of the flowers)

Species: alaskensis (Alaskan)

Synonym(s): P.sibirica, P.borealis

English Name(s):

Alaskan Phlox, Siberian Phlox, Boreal Phlox

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Low tufted matted herbaceous plants from taproots.
• Stems much branched, from a subligneous (sub-woody) base.

Leaves:

• Opposite and simple (one blade).
• Margins entire (smooth).
• Minutely spiny tipped.
• More or less overlapping.
• 8-22 mm long by 1-2.5 mm wide.
• Persistent (not falling off) after dieing, especially on lower parts of stems.
• Leaves flattened, linear-lanceolate in shape.
• Margins ciliate (with hairs).
• Sticky with gland-tiped partitioned hairs.

Reproductive Parts:

• Calyx (sepals) united, 5-lobed.
• Corolla (petals) united, 5-lobed. Lobes radiating outward and very showy.
• Flowers perfect (bisexual), and regular in symmetry.
• Ovary is superior (above recepticle), and 3-loculed (chambered).
• Stamens (male parts) 5, attached to corolla tube.
• Calyx 7-10 mm long, sticky hairy with glandular and glandless hairs.
• Corolla tube 6-12 mm long, lobes 6-14 mm wide.
• Flowers pink to lilac or whitish.
• Flowers up to 3 cm in diameter.
• Flowers usually solitary at ends of branches.

Seed:

• Fruit is a capsule.
• Capsule 3-cavitied, rupturing the calyx (sepals).
• Seeds 1-2 per cavity.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Can be distinguished from Phlox hoodii, the other Phlox in our area, by its larger pink to whitish flowers and its flattened leaves.

Physiology:

• Some find the flower scent most disagreeable while others find it quite nice.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Generally finished blooming by third week of July.

Animal Uses:

• The flowers are pollenated by moths or butterflies. The anthers are arranged so that the pollen will fall on some part of the insects head while it searches for nectar.

Habitat:

• Open stony slopes in tundra or alpine areas.

Modern:

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Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

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Traditional Other:

Folklore:

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