Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0487.JPG-05-22-2017
Flower name (scientific): Phlox divaricata Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) floks dy-vair-ih-KAY-tuh
Flower name (common): Wild Blue Phlox
Family name (common): Phlox
Family name (scientific): Polemoniaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Derived from the ancient Greek for flame. Originally denoting a species with a flame-colored flower.
    Specific epithet: Straggling, wide-spreading, divaricate.
Common name origin: From the common color and Phlox originately referred to an unknown flame-colored flower.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.7 to 1.0 inches (1.8 to 2.5 cm)
     Petal count: 5 (6 petals is less common; both 4 and 7 petal forms are very uncommon).
     Color: Light purple to blue; white is very uncommon. The white-colored form has been called Phlox divaricata f. candida E. J. Palmer & Steyerm. PY: 1955.
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme
Plant description: Erect
     Size: 12 to 20 inches (30 to 51 cm) tall.
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to 5 cm long and 2 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate to ovate (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): April to June
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Forests, woodlands, streambanks, shade or part shade, slightly dry to moist.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): The characteristics to look for to distinguish Phlox divaricata from other Phlox species are as follows. The typical flower color is blue-purple (but other colors do arise). The corolla tubes are hairless. The stamen and style are typically not visible, being located down inside the corolla tube. Typical plant height in the range approximately 30 to 50 cm.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.799503
Longitude: -91.507777
Altitude: 262.30
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Bayfield, Barron, Brown, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV)
In Canada: (ON, QC)
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: Phlox divaricata subsp. divaricata (The other infraspecific is Phlox divaricata subsp. laphamii (Alphonso Wood) Wherry which has been recorded from 22 US states.)