About Phlox hoodii subsp. muscoides (Nutt.) Wherry
Phlox hoodii, commonly known as spiny phlox or carpet phlox, is a species of phlox. It is native to western North America, where it is a common flowering plant in sagebrush regions. It mostly grows in dry lithosol habitats, and is one of the first plants to bloom in spring after snow melts. Its native range extends from Alaska all the way to Arizona. This species includes many subspecies, one of which is Phlox hoodii subsp. muscoides (Nutt.) Wherry. Phlox hoodii is a perennial herb that shows morphological variability across individuals, but it usually grows as a tight mat or loose clump low to the ground. Short stems emerge from a woody taproot and attached caudex, and the entire plant does not grow taller than 13 centimetres (5 inches). It produces abundant tiny, sharp-pointed leaves that are arranged oppositely along stems, and are barely over one centimetre (1⁄3 inch) long. The above-ground herbage of the plant has a hairy texture, with hairs ranging from short to long and appearing woolly to cobwebby. Before it blooms, the plant has an almost mosslike appearance. The inflorescence consists of a single solitary flower, which can be white, pink, or blue in shade. The flower has a tubular throat around one centimetre (1⁄3 inch) long that opens out into a flat, five-lobed corolla.
