smooth phlox, Phlox glaberrima

Smooth phlox is one of the several very beautiful mid-sized species. Not as tall as garden phlox, nor as short as some of the woodland species, and much taller than the tufted ones. One of the keys to identification is whether or not the anthers reach to opening of the tube. Smooth phlox grows in moist open to partly shaded spots in AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD(X), MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA, WI, and WV. Cedar Bog Preserve, Champaign Co OH, 8/19/11.