Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 19, 2007.

Phlox austromontana, from two to four inches tall, spreads in dense, low, tough mats.  Its tiny almost sharp leaves are intensely green.  It is common to find dozens of patches of Phlox austromontana brightening a sandy, barren area.  Phlox austromontana is very similar to, and grows right along side, Phlox hoodii.  (For a comparison of the characteristics of the two plants, see P. hoodii below).

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 19, 2007.

Frederick Coville (1867-1937) named this plant in 1893 from a specimen probably collected by Marcus Jones.

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 19, 2007.

Phlox hoodii and Phlox austromontana are very similar.  P. hoodii has flowers about 1/3 smaller than those of P. austromontana and its leaves tend to be smaller and more densely clustered along the stem. Several distinguishing factors require a hand lens to note: the calyx of  P. hoodii is quite hairy and is not keeled between the main lobes, P. austromontana calyx is not hairy and is keeled. 

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 19, 2007.

On the 1819-1822 Franklin Arctic Expedition, John Richardson collected this plant in Saskatchewan and he named it in 1823 for an Expedition companion, the map maker and artist, Robert Hood.