October flower, Polygonella polygama

October flower is described as blooming in October throughout its range. Blooming? There aren't any petals there. Rather, these flower parts are an undifferentiated combination of sepals and petals. It's believed that in the grand scheme, flower parts started like this. More recently evolved sophisticates (not a scientific term!) have tough outer sepals that protect the delicate inner petals in bud. October flower tepals are kind of tough. They get dry and persistent after flowering. This is a subshrub that makes a pretty plant with a large display of all those tiny flowers. October plant grows in dry, mostly open areas in AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, and TX. Polk Co FL, 10/21/15.