The Polemoniaceae (Jacob's-ladder or phlox family) are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s consisting of about 25 genera with 270–400

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of annuals and

perennials 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 widel ...

native to the Northern Hemisphere and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...

, with the center of diversity in western North America. Only one genus (''

Polemonium ''Polemonium'', commonly called Jacob's ladders or Jacob's-ladders (the name derived from the Biblical story), is a genus of between 25 and 40 species of flowering plants in the family Polemoniaceae, native to cool temperate to arctic regions o ...

'') is found in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

, and two (''

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 ...

'' and ''

'') in

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

, where they are confined to cool temperate to arctic regions; both genera also occur more widely in North America, suggesting relatively recent colonization of the Old World from North America. The family can be distinguished from most other eudicot families by the ovary made up of three fused

carpel Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) '' pistils' ...

s (usually with three chambers, but with one chamber in some species). The members of the family have five

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

s, five petals fused, and five stamens that alternate with the lobes of the corolla. For decades, most sources used a classification of the family published by Grant in 1959, but new evidence, including

molecular phylogeny Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

, veins of the corolla, pollen, and the flavonoids present, have led to reclassifications, such as the 1998 classification by Grant. It recognizes two subfamilies. The subfamily Cobaeoideae is tropical/subtropical and composed of six genera organized into five tribes. The subfamily Polemonioideae consists of 13 temperate genera. Grant divides it into three tribes, but with the disclaimer that it is not clear what the correct division is and that the genus classifications may be more useful in this subfamily.

Cultivation and uses

Although few are of economic importance, a number are widely grown as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

s, such as ''

Ipomopsis aggregata ''Ipomopsis aggregata'' is a species of biennial flowering plant in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae), commonly known as scarlet trumpet, scarlet gilia, or skyrocket because of its scarlet red flowers with lobes curving back as if blown back by r ...

'' (scarlet gilia), and many species of ''

'' and ''

''. The kantuta (''

Cantua buxifolia 240px, Cantutas in Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru">Lake_Titicaca.html" ;"title="Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca">Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru. ''Cantua buxifolia'', (, Hispanicized spellings ''cantuta, cantu''), known as ''qantu'', ' ...

'') is the national flower of Bolivia and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

Genera

The 25 genera are: *'' Acanthogilia'' *'' Aliciella'' * *'' Allophyllum'' *''

Bonplandia ''Bonplandia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Polemoniaceae The Polemoniaceae (Jacob's-ladder or phlox family) are a family of flowering plants consisting of about 25 genera with 270–400 species of annuals and peren ...

'' *''

Cantua ''Cantua'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Polemoniaceae which is in the order Ericales. They are restricted to central South America where many species are endemics in the countries of occurrence. There are currently about 12 rec ...

'' *''

Cobaea ''Cobaea'' is a genus of flowering plants including about 20 species of rapid growing, ornamental climbers whose native range extends from Mexico to Peru. The botanical name honors Father Bernabé Cobo Padre Bernabé Cobo (born at Lopera in Sp ...

'' * *'' Collomia'' *'' Dayia'' * *'' Eriastrum'' *'' Gilia'' *'' Giliastrum''* *'' Gymnosteris'' *'' Huthia''* *'' Ipomopsis'' *'' Langloisia'' *'' Lathrocasis'' * *''

Leptodactylon ''Linanthus'' is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. The species are found in western North America and in Chile, with the greatest diversity in California. The stems are erect, with multiple branches arisin ...

''* *'' Leptosiphon'' *''

Linanthus ''Linanthus'' is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. The species are found in western North America and in Chile, with the greatest diversity in California. The stems are erect, with multiple branches arisin ...

'' *'' Loeselia'' *'' Loeseliastrum'' *'' Microsteris'' * *''

Navarretia ''Navarretia'' is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants related to the phloxes and the gilias. This is one genus of plants, among others, which are sometimes called pincushionplants. The inflorescence which bears the flowers is surrou ...

'' *''

'' *'' Saltugilia'' * Genera with an asterisk (*) are not treated as distinct by all botanists.

References

External links

Tree of Life Polemoniaceae

i
L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.
{{Authority control Ericales families