Phlox solivaga Mayfield & Darrach

Washington: Garfield: [locality and coordinates withheld; status in Washington: G1/S1 (Endangered; WANHP)],
Flat summit covered by volcanic basalt rocks forming a cobble-like pavement with thin clay soil between flat rocks. Community of Elymus spicatus, Poa secunda, Balsamorhiza serrata, Castilleja thompsonii, Allium tolmiei, Lomatium cous, Sedum, and Penstemon humilis. Veg cover <40%, rock cover 60-70%. Summit bisected by two track road. HerbariumSpecimenDuplicate: Phlox solivaga Locally common on sparsely vegetated stone flats and in road bed and just below SE rim on <5% slopes. Absent from adjacent upper slopes or W to NW side of mesa where soils are deep and meadow vegetation is taller and more dense. Density averages 6-7 plants/sq m at south end, 4-5 plants/sq m at middle and north end. 686 plants counted in random walk covering <10% of habitat. Population estimated at 6800-7500 plants. Https://intermountainbiota.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=31325671. Phenology: Fruiting.

Walter Fertig 32729, Jun 15, 2018
WS, Catalog: 400857, WS009400