Slender phlox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slender phlox |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Microsteris
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| Species: |
gracilis
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| Synonyms | |
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Phlox gracilis |
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Microsteris is a unique group of flowering plants. It contains just one type of plant, called Microsteris gracilis. Most people know it as the slender phlox. This plant is part of the phlox family, which includes many beautiful flowering species.
Scientists sometimes have different ideas about how to group plants. For a long time, many thought the slender phlox belonged in the Phlox group. But some experts believe it's different enough to have its own group, Microsteris. They are still studying its DNA to learn more.
Where Slender Phlox Grows
The slender phlox, Microsteris gracilis, is found naturally across a large area. It grows in western North America, from northwestern Canada all the way down through the American Midwest and West Coast. You can also find it in Mexico and parts of South America.
This plant is native to many different plant communities. For example, it thrives in all the varied natural areas of California.
What Slender Phlox Looks Like
Microsteris gracilis is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. Its shape can change a lot.
It might grow low to the ground, spreading out with many branches. Sometimes it looks like a small, bushy clump. Other times, it grows straight up and is very thin. It can reach up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall, but it's often much smaller.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves of the slender phlox are shaped like a spear, called "lance-shaped." They are usually 1 to 3 centimeters long. Most of the leaves grow in pairs directly opposite each other on the stem. However, the leaves closer to the top of the plant might grow one after another, not in pairs. The whole plant feels a bit sticky and hairy because it has tiny glands and hairs.
Flowers
At the very top of the stem, you'll find the inflorescence. This is where one or more small flowers grow. Each flower has a long, tube-like part, about a centimeter long. This tube is surrounded by a cup-like structure called a calyx, which is made of leaf-like parts called sepals. The calyx is also hairy and sticky.
The flat part of the flower, called the corolla, has five flat or slightly notched sections. These sections are called "lobes" and are very tiny, only 1 or 2 millimeters long. The flowers can be white or a bright pink color. They always have a yellowish center or "throat."
