Phlox drummondii (commonly annual phlox or Drummond's phlox)[1] is a flowering plant in the genus Phlox of the family Polemoniaceae. Native to Texas, it is also widely distributed in the southeastern United States, especially along public highways. P. drummondii is often used as an ornamental plant.[2] The flowers have a wide range of colours "from white and cream through pinks, lilacs, roses, purples and reds, to almost black".[3]
| Phlox drummondii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Polemoniaceae |
| Genus: | Phlox |
| Species: | P. drummondii
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| Binomial name | |
| Phlox drummondii | |
Phlox drummondii is named after Scottish botanist Thomas Drummond, who sent it and a variety of other plant samples back to Britain following his 1833–1835 expedition to Texas.[4]
Description
editIt is an annual, growing from seed each year.[5] The branches have sharp, pointed, lengthy, ciliated leaves with rounded flowers. The flowers are single or double, with lightly scented, flat, star-shaped petals. The flowers mature to 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter. It tolerates cold weather well, but requires plentiful watering and dislikes drought, wind and heat.[6] The plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies,[7] which includes its main pollinator responsible for approximately 80% of pollinator visits, Battus philenor.[8]
References
edit
- ^ P. drummondii at USDA Plants Profile
- ^ Phlox drummondii at Floridata
- ^ Kelly, James P. 1920. A genetical study of flower form and flower color in Phlox drummondii. Genetics 5(2): 189-248 and 5(3): 361.
- ^ "Phlox drummondii (Annual phlox)". wildflower.org.
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
- ^ Bruce Asakawa; Sharon Asakawa (3 September 2001). California Gardener's Guide. Cool Springs Press. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-1-930604-47-6. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ "Phlox drummondii - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ Burgin, Grace A.; Bronzo‐Munich, Olivia; Garner, Austin G.; Acevedo, Izzy A.; Hopkins, Robin (May 2023). "Characterizing each step of pollination in Phlox drummondii reveals that a single butterfly species predominates in the pollinator assemblage". American Journal of Botany. 110 (5). doi:10.1002/ajb2.16172. ISSN 0002-9122.
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