desert phlox

Phlox austromontana Coville

Phlox austromontana is a perennial herb in the family Polemoniaceae, commonly known as desert phlox or mountain phlox. It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California, growing in forested and wooded mountain habitats, scrub, and open areas. The plant forms mats with very short stems and oppositely arranged lance-shaped leaves up to 1.5 cm long. Each stem ends in a solitary flower that is white, light pink, or lavender, with five rounded lobes and a length just over 1 cm.

Description

Phlox austromontana is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial herb with short stems and small, lance-shaped leaves. It produces solitary flowers at the tips of its stems, each with five rounded lobes and a color ranging from white to light pink or lavender. The species is found in the southwestern United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as in Baja California, Mexico. It typically inhabits forested and wooded mountain areas, scrub, and open regions. The plant was first described in 1893 by Frederick Coville.