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Small's southern clarkia
Scientific Name: Clarkia australis
Family: Onagraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Clarkia australis - Small's Southern Clarkia
Clarkia australis, commonly known as Small's Southern Clarkia, is a flowering plant belonging to the evening primrose family (Onagraceae).
Considerations for Pets
- This plant is an herb. Flowers, leaves, & seeds are used by small animals.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Clarkia australis E. Small
- Common Name: Small's Southern Clarkia
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Family: Onagraceae
- Synonym: Clarkia virgata subsp. australis (Note: some sources may consider this synonym incomplete)
Distribution and Habitat
- Clarkia australis is endemic to California, meaning it is exclusively found in this region.
- It is frequently observed in the southern Sierra Nevada.
- It can be found in cismontane woodland and lower montane coniferous forests.
Morphology and Growth Habits
- Clarkia australis is described as a forb/herb, indicating it's a non-woody, non-grass plant.
- Flowers are typically small, widely spaced, and can range in color from pink and lavender to purple or wine red.
Ecology
- It's categorized as "Globally Imperiled (G2)."
- This species sometimes hybridizes in the southern part of its range with *Clarkia purpurea* subsp. *purpurea*.
- It is considered to be a "fire-following" plant, being found in recently burned areas.
- Attracts small pollinators and occasionally hummingbirds.
Quirky Facts
- Dean Wm. Taylor is credited with several photographs of Clarkia australis taken in 1986.
Further Information
- Discover Life offers a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Clarkia australis.
- The USDA NRCS provides a distributional map for Clarkia australis E. Small.