clarkia

Unique corolla shapes

elegant clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata

elegant clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata

• axis in bud straight; buds reflexed [i.e. drooping]
• all 4 sepals staying fused [theoretically, but this varies]
• petals 10–25 mm [unspotted]; petal claw slender [unlobed]
• found everywhere

photo

diamond clarkia
Clarkia rhomboidea

diamond clarkia
Clarkia rhomboidea

• looks much like elegant clarkia
• axis in bud recurved at tip; buds pendent
• sepals all coming free [sometimes reflexed, sometimes spreading]
• petals 6–12 mm, generally spotted; petal claw broad, 2-lobed [lobes are slight bumps on either side of the base of the claw]
• found at Sierra Azul

red ribbons
Clarkia concinna

red ribbons
Clarkia concinna

• scattered throughout the bay area

Standard corolla shapes, buds erect or reflexed

winecup clarkia
Clarkia purpurea

winecup clarkia
Clarkia purpurea

• sepals all coming free or staying fused in pairs [occasionally all 4 fused]
• ovary 8-grooved
• often has a dark spot on each petal (location depending on subspecies)
• found everywhere

davy’s clarkia
Clarkia davyi

• sepals all coming free or staying fused in pairs
• ovary 8-grooved
• stem prostrate to decumbent
• petals 5–11 mm, no darker spot
• winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea) has either much larger petals or an erect stem and more acute leaves
• rare: coastal

ruby chalice clarkia
Clarkia rubicunda

ruby chalice clarkia
Clarkia rubicunda

• all 4 sepals staying fused
• ovary and immature fruit 4-grooved
• petals with ± red spot or zone at base of petal
• petals 10–30 mm
• stigma exserted beyond anthers
• found everywhere

presidio clarkia
Clarkia franciscana

• all 4 sepals staying fused
• ovary and immature fruit 4-grooved
• petals with ± red spot or zone at base of petal
• all photos show a pale area around the red spot, deepening to purple at the petal edges
• petals 5–13 mm
• stigma not exserted beyond anthers
• Presidio, Redwood Regional Park

farewell to spring
Clarkia amoena

• all 4 sepals staying fused
• ovary and immature fruit 4- or 8-grooved, depending on subspecies
• petals with red spot or marks near middle of petal
• Sunol, scattered in the Santa Cruz range, Marin

chaparral clarkia
Clarkia affinis

chaparral clarkia
Clarkia affinis

• all 4 sepals staying fused
• ovary and immature fruit 8-grooved
• scattered around the east bay; only historically on the peninsula

Standard corolla shapes, buds pendent

slender clarkia
Clarkia gracilis

• all 4 sepals staying fused
• ovary 4-grooved or (rarely) shallowly 8-grooved
• petals entire, pink-lavender, often lighter toward base, may have red spot near middle or base
• anthers alike in size and color
• scattered in Diablo range

canyon clarkia
Clarkia epilobioides

• all 4 sepals fused or fused in pairs
• ovary cylindric, not obviously grooved
• petals entire, white, not flecked, fading pink
• anthers in 2 unlike series, inner smaller, paler
• rare: Henry Coe, Sierra Azul, and maybe Rancho San Antonio

waltham creek clarkia
Clarkia modesta

waltham creek clarkia
Clarkia modesta

• all 4 sepals staying fused
• ovary 8-grooved
• petals entire, pink, generally darker flecked
• anthers in 2 unlike series, inner smaller, paler
• scattered in Diablo range

twolobe clarkia
Clarkia biloba ssp. biloba

• all 4 sepals staying fused
• ovary 8-grooved
• petals 2-lobed, lavender to bright pink or magenta, often red-flecked
• anthers in 2 unlike series, inner smaller, paler
• Mt. Diablo