The Asteridae
Family Overview - Solanales

Polemoniaceae - the Phlox Family

Diversity:  A small family of 18 genera and 300 species.  Mostly herbs, but some shrubs.

Distribution:  North temperate with maximum diversity in western North American and Andean South America - only a few taxa from norhern Eurasia.  The Texas flora includes 7 genera and 33 species including endemics, mostly from the western part of the state, in two genera. Annual garden Phlox (Texas endemic P. drummondii), populating gardens throughout the world, is derived from our Spring flora.

Floral structure:


 'standard' Solanales BUT tricarpellate
Significant features:  Within the context of the Solanales, elements of this family are marked by an 'extra' carpel which is usually indicated by the stigma lobes.  Stamens of these plants also tend to attach to the corolla at different points along its axis.
Local Phlox:
P. cuspidata
P. drummondii 

Ipomopsis rubra:  

population
inflorescence 
flowers

More information on the Polemoniaceae

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last updated/mirrored 7-31-2007  MDR