Taxonomy
of Flowering Plants - LECTURE
NOTES - Fall, 1998
Hugh
D. Wilson - rm. 306,
Butler Hall
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 (see California
taxa) 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:
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P. cuspidata
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P. drummondii
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Ipomopsis rubra:
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population
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inflorescence
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flowers
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More information on the Polemoniaceae
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201 homepage, or the Asteridae
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