Phlox hoodii : Moss 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: hoodii

Synonym(s): P. richardsonii

English Name(s):

Moss Phlox,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Low tufted matted herbaceous plants from taproots.
• Cushion-like dwarf plant arising from a subligneous base.
• Stems decumbent or ascending, much branched to unbranched.

Leaves:

• Opposite and simple (one blade).
• Margins entire (smooth).
• Minutely spiny tipped.
• More or less overlapping.
• Awl-shaped, over lapping, cobwebby-hiary toward base.

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 cobwebby-hairy
• Corolla tube usually extending well beyond the tips of the calyx.
• Flowers 1 cm or more wide, usually white.
• Flowers mostly 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 alaskensis, the other Phlox in our area, by its smaller white flowers and its non-flattened leaves.
• This small plant can be mistaken for a moss when not in bloom!

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Dry prairies and foothills.
• Sandy soils

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: