Microsteris gracilis var. humilior (Hook.) Greene (Hook.) Cronquist
pink twink
Polemoniaceae (Phlox family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #1985)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Microsteris gracilis var. humilior
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, sometimes decumbent, simple or branched, minutely hairy or glandular-hairy at least above, 5-30 cm tall.
Leaves:
Upper leaves alternate, entire, linear to lance-elliptic; lower leaves opposite, more egg-shaped; 1-5 cm long, unstalked, at least the upper leaves hairy to glandular.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of pairs of flowers (one stalked the other not) at the ends of the stem and branches, or single in the axils of leaf-like bracts; corollas pinkish-white, 5-15 mm long, the tube white or yellowish, spreading to five pink to pale purple, squared-off or notched, 1-2 mm long lobes; calyces 5-10 mm long, glandular-hairy, with 5 green ribs separated by membranous tissue that is ruptured by the ripening capsule, the slender teeth about as long as the tube.
Fruits:
Capsules, spheric to egg-shaped, 3-chambered; seeds 1 per chamber.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Microsteris gracilis var. humilior

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1371 1371 1371
Slope Gradient (%)
30 30 30

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

130 130 130
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 2 2
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1
Modal BEC Zone Class
MS

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

MS(1)

Habitat and Range

Moist to dry grasslands, meadows, rocky slopes, floodplain terraces, streamsides, gravelly roadsides and forest openings in the lowland, steppe and lower montane zones; common in S BC, infrequent northward; ssp. gracilis - mostly west of the Coast-Cascade Mountains, N to Vancouver Island, introduced in SE AK, S to CA, OR and MT; ssp. humilis - mostly east of Coast-Cascade Mountains, N to S YT (where probably introduced), S to MT, NM, CA and MX, S America.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Gilia gracilis var. humilior (Hook.) H. St. John
Microsteris gracilis subsp. humilis (Greene) Brand
Microsteris humilis Greene
Microsteris micrantha (Kellogg) Greene
Phlox gracilis subsp. humilis (Greene) H. Mason
Phlox gracilis var. humilior (Hook.) B. Boivin