Cold-desert Phlox, Pink Phlox
Phlox stansburyi
Color: Pink to white
Common name: Cold-desert Phlox, Pink Phlox
Latin name: Phlox stansburyi
Family: POLEMONIACEAE
Height: 2-8 inches
Description: It is a perennial herb taking an upright, branching form generally growing up through shrubs. The inflorescence bears one or more white to pink flowers with narrow, tubular throats which may exceed 3 centimeters in length. The base of the tube is encased in a calyx of keeled, ribbed sepals. The flower corolla is flat and five-lobed.
Leaf: The hairy linear or lance-shaped leaves are 1-3 cm in length and oppositely arranged.
Range: Desert Mountains, East of Sierra Nevada
Habitat: Dry areas in sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1700–3000 m.
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Notes: This photo was taken on May 5, 2004 Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve, San Bernardino County, California. Phlox stansburyi, a dicot, is a perennial herb that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America.
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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