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slender clarkia
Scientific Name: Clarkia gracilis ssp. gracilis
Family: Onagraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Slender Clarkia (Clarkia gracilis)
Clarkia gracilis, commonly known as slender clarkia, is a wildflower species native to the western United States.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Clarkia gracilis (Piper) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr.
- Common Name: Slender Clarkia
- Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)
- Order: Myrtales
- Synonyms and Subspecies:
- Clarkia gracilis ssp. gracilis
- Clarkia gracilis ssp. tracyi (Jeps.) Abdel-Hameed & R. Snow
- Clarkia gracilis ssp. sonomensis
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to California, Oregon, and Washington.
- Found in sunny areas near forest edges.
- Prefers north or east slopes under oaks and pines.
Morphological Characteristics
- Annual herb.
- Erect stem, hairless to densely hairy.
- Leaves are linear, 1 to 2 1/2 inches long.
- Flowers are pink or pinkish lavender, with flower buds that hang down.
- Fruits are capsules, 4-celled, 3-5 cm long, straight, slightly enlarged above the middle, and tapered to a slender beak.
- Plant is typically 6-18 inches tall.
Quirky Facts
- The shape of the petals in the Clarkia genus can vary dramatically, from broad and fan-shaped to slender and diamond-shaped.
- Slender Clarkia isn't very showy unless massed, making it effective for ground cover.
Additional Resources
- FNA: Find Clarkia gracilis in the Flora of North America (if available)
- Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
- Encyclopedia of Life