PLANT: Taprooted perennial with 1-7 ascending to erect stems; stems 1-3 dm tall, the internodes evident.
LEAVES: linear to narrowly lanceolate, flat, acute, 1-5(-8) cm long, 1-4(-5) mm wide, glabrous to pubescent, the upper often glandular.
INFLORESCENCE: flowers 1-3, pedicelled; pedicels sparsely to moderately glandular.
FLOWERS: calyx 11-18 mm long, the membrane flat or wrinkled; corolla white to bright pink, the tube 12-18 mm long, the lobes 10-15 mm long, obtuse; stamens inserted on the mid tube; stigmas located below most of the anthers; ovary with 2-3 ovules per locule.
NOTES: Open rocky slopes, desert shrublands, woodlands: Cochise Co.; 1100-1550 m (3600-5100 ft); Apr-Jun(-Sep); AZ to TX.
REFERENCES: Dieter H. Wilken and J. Mark Porter, 2005, Vascular Plants of Arizona: Polemoniaceae. CANOTIA 1: 1-37.
Duration: Perennial
Nativity: Native
Lifeform: Forb/Herb
General: Taprooted perennial with 1-7 ascending to erect stems; stems 10-30 cm tall, with evident internodes.
Leaves: Linear to narrowly lanceolate, flat, acute, 1-5 cm long, 1-4 mm wide, glabrous to pubescent, upper ones often glandular.
Flowers: Terminal inflorescence with 1-3 flowers, pedicels sparsely to moderately glandular; calyx 11-18 mm long, membrane flat or wrinkled; corolla salverform, white to bright pink, tube 12-18 mm long, lobes 10-15 mm long, obtuse, stamens inserted on the middle of the tube; stigmas below most of the anthers.
Fruits: Ovoid to ellipsoid capsule.
Ecology: Found on open rocky slopes, in the desert shrublands and woodlands; 3,500-5,000 ft (1067-1524 m); flowers April-June.
Distribution: NW, s TX; south to n MEX.
Notes: Distinguished by its semi-short, open, ascending habit (as opposed to mat-forming), with linear leaves, its flat to transversely wrinkled calyx membranes and the bright pink corolla with a slender tube and abruptly spreading lobes.
Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have many uses.
Etymology: Phlox is from the Greek phlox, or flame, while nana is from the Greek nannos, dwarf.
Synonyms: Phlox nana var. aurifolia
Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2015
