Phlox (Family Polemoniaceae)

The Polemoniaceae (Jacob's-Ladder or Phlox Family) is a family

of about 25 genera with 270-400 species of annual and perennial

plants.

Members of Family Polemoniaceae are native to the Northern Hemi-

sphere and South America, with the center of diversity in western

North America, especially in California. Only one genus (Polemon-

ium) is found in Europe, and two (Phlox and Polemonium) in Asia,

where they are confined to cool temperate to arctic regions; both

genera also occur more widely in North America, suggesting rela-

tively recent colonization of the Old World from North America.

Although few are of economic importance, a number are widely

grown as ornamental plants, such as Ipomopsis aggregata (scarlet

gilia), and many species of Phlox and Polemonium. The Kantuta

(Cantua buxifolia) is the national flower of Bolivia and Peru.

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