''Phlox speciosa'' is a species of

phlox ''Phlox'' (; Greek φλόξ "flame"; plural "phlox" or "phloxes", Greek φλόγες ''phlóges'') is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in di ...

known by the common name showy phlox. It is native to western North America from

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

and

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

, where it occurs in sagebrush, pine woodlands, and mountain forests. It is an erect

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

with a shrubby base growing up to about 40 centimeters tall. The leaves are linear or lance-shaped, oppositely arranged, and generally glandular. The

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

bears one or more white to pink flowers with elongated tubular throats each up to about 1.5 centimeters long. The corolla has five double-lobed, notched, or heart-shaped lobes. There are several subspecies, most being limited to certain sections of the plant's overall distribution.

Description

''Phlox speciosa'' has an erect stem. Leaves are between 1–5 cm and lance-linear. Terminal inflorescence with leaf-like bracts below; pedicel 3–20 mm and slender. The calyx is 7–10 mm, membrane not keeled; corolla bright pink to white, with heart-shaped lobes, tube 10–15 mm, lobes obcordate to deeply 2-lobed;

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s short,

anther The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

s in corolla tube; style 0.4–2 mm, stigmas > style. Rocky, wooded slopes, sagebrush scrub; 500–2400 m. Several subspecies named, study needed. Flowers Apr- Jun.

Distribution

The plant is widely distributed, occurring at many serpentine sites throughout the western United States. In southern Oregon specifically, ''P. speciosa'' has been known to co-occur with ''

Darlingtonia californica ''Darlingtonia californica'' , also called the California pitcher plant, cobra lily, or cobra plant, is a species of carnivorous plant. It is the sole member of the genus ''Darlingtonia'' in the family Sarraceniaceae. This pitcher plant is nativ ...

'' th
Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside
managed by the BLM (Medford District.) Additionally, this plant is known to occur in th
Deer Creek Center
ref name="DCC
Deer Creek Center Vascular Plant Inventory
Master's Thesis of Keir A. Morse of Southern Oregon University (2008). near

Selma, Oregon Selma is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 695. It is located in the ZIP code of 97538. Geography Selma is just southwest of ...

References

External links

*
Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfileWashington Burke MuseumPhoto gallery
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7186546

speciosa Speciosa (foaled 28 April 2003) is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from June 2005 and October 2007 she ran seventeen times and won four races. As a two-year-old, she won two of her six race ...

Flora of North America