Polemoniaceae
(Phlox Family)
Habit
- herbs (shrubs, vines, trees)
Leaves
-
alternate or
opposite,
simple or
compound
Inflorescence
-
cymose, or
solitary
Flowers
-
perfect,
regular
Sepals
- 5,
connate with membrane connecting adjacent
sepals often transparent
Petals
- 5,
connate usually with narrow tube and spreading lobes
Stamens
- 5,
filaments
adnate to
corolla,
anthers often
blue
Ovary
-
superior with 3 (2-4) fused
carpels and 3 locules
(axile placentation)
Style
- 1, with 3
stigma lobes
Fruit
-
capsule
(loculicidal)
Diversity
- 20 genera / 300 species
Distribution
- mostly temperate annuals (many in Western U.S.)
Economics
- cultivated ornamentals (Phlox)
Notes
-
Images
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