genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
within the
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...
family
Onagraceae
The Onagraceae are a family of flowering plants known as the willowherb family or evening primrose family. They include about 650 species of herbs, shrubs, and treesNorth America, though one species (''Clarkia tenella'') is native to
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...
.
Clarkias are typically annual herbs, growing either prostrate or erect to a height of less than 2 metres. Their leaves are small and simple, from 1 to 10 cm in length depending on the species. Their flowers have four
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined ...
s and four
petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usuall ...
s, usually white, pink, or red, and are often spotted or streaked. Their fruit are elongated, cylindrical pods, usually 4-grooved or 8-grooved, and when mature they hold many tiny, cubical seeds.
Several members of the genus are sometimes referred to by the common name "godetia", including ''Clarkia amoena'', ''
Clarkia affinis
''Clarkia affinis'' is a species of wildflower known as chaparral clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it grows mainly on chaparral
Chaparral ( ) is a shrubland plant community and geographical feature found primarily in the U.S. state ...
'', and ''
Clarkia lassenensis
''Clarkia lassenensis'' is a species of wildflower known by the common name Lassen clarkia. This plant is native to the US states of California, Oregon, and Nevada, where it grows in the mountains and forested plateau. The plant erects a spind ...
'' (the Lassen godetia). This is because they were formerly classified in a genus called ''Godetia'', which is no longer recognised since its members have been absorbed into the genus ''Clarkia''. Older sources may still use ''Godetia'' as a genus name.
The genus was named in honour of the explorer Captain
William Clark
William Clark (August 1, 1770 – September 1, 1838) was an American explorer, soldier, Indian agent, and territorial governor. A native of Virginia, he grew up in pre-statehood Kentucky before later settling in what became the state of Misso ...
.
The
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...
had a warship called , a .
Cultivation
Some species are popular
garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...
Clarkia species play important roles in their local ecosystems, as they provide habitat for native pollinators. Some pollinators even rely on Clarkia exclusively, such as the " Clarkia bee". They are also used as host plants by some species as caterpillars, such as
Sphingidae
The Sphingidae are a family of moths ( Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, ...
moths.
Species
;Selected species:
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Clarkia affinis
''Clarkia affinis'' is a species of wildflower known as chaparral clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it grows mainly on chaparral
Chaparral ( ) is a shrubland plant community and geographical feature found primarily in the U.S. state ...
Clarkia epilobioides
''Clarkia epilobioides'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name canyon clarkia. It is native to California, Arizona, and Baja California, where it grows in shaded habitat in woodland and chaparral ...
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Clarkia exilis
''Clarkia exilis'' is a small herbaceous annual plant of western North America. It is an uncommon species in the evening primrose family known by the common names Kern River clarkia and slender clarkia.
Description
''Clarkia exilis'' is an an ...
Clarkia gracilis
''Clarkia gracilis'' is a species of wildflower known by the common name slender clarkia. This plant is native to the US states of California, Oregon, and Washington, where it is found in coastal, foothill, valley, and low-elevation mountain habi ...
''
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Clarkia heterandra
''Clarkia heterandra'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Onagraceae known by the common name mountain clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is from the forests and woodlands of several of eastern and western mountain range ...
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*''
Clarkia imbricata
''Clarkia imbricata'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Vine Hill clarkia. It is endemic to Sonoma County, California, where it is known from only one remaining natural occurrence near ...
''
*''
Clarkia jolonensis
''Clarkia jolonensis'' is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Jolon clarkia. It is endemic to Monterey County, California, where it is known from the woodlands of the Central Coast Rang ...
''
*''
Clarkia lassenensis
''Clarkia lassenensis'' is a species of wildflower known by the common name Lassen clarkia. This plant is native to the US states of California, Oregon, and Nevada, where it grows in the mountains and forested plateau. The plant erects a spind ...
''
*''
Clarkia lewisii
''Clarkia lewisii'' is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Lewis' clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the hills and mountains of Monterey and San Benito Countie ...
''
*''
Clarkia lingulata
''Clarkia lingulata'' is a rare species of wildflower known by the common name Merced clarkia. This plant is endemic to Mariposa County, California, where it is known from only two sites near the Merced River.
It is thought to have evolved very ...
''
*''
Clarkia mildrediae
''Clarkia mildrediae'' is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Mildred's clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the forests of the southernmost Cascade Range and nor ...
''
*''
Clarkia modesta
''Clarkia modesta'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Waltham Creek clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the woodlands of several of the central mountain ranges, inclu ...
''
*''
Clarkia mosquinii
''Clarkia mosquinii'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Mosquin's clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the northern Sierra Nevada foothills at the border bet ...
''
*''
Clarkia prostrata
''Clarkia prostrata'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name prostrate clarkia. It is endemic to the coastline of San Luis Obispo County, California, where it grows on seaside bluffs in forested a ...
Clarkia rhomboidea
''Clarkia rhomboidea'' is a species of wildflower known by the common names diamond clarkia and forest clarkia. This plant is native to western North America, where it is a common resident of varied forest and woodland habitats. This clarkia grow ...
''
*''
Clarkia rostrata
''Clarkia rostrata'' is a species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae, evening primrose family known by the common name beaked clarkia.
Distribution
The wildflower is Endemism, endemic to California, where it is known from the California oak wo ...
Clarkia similis
''Clarkia similis'' is a species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae, evening primrose family known by the common name Ramona clarkia. It is Endemism, endemic to California, where it is found in the coastal hills and mountains of the southwester ...
Clarkia stellata
''Clarkia'' is a genus within the flowering plant family Onagraceae. Over 40 species are currently classified in ''Clarkia''; almost all are native to western North America, though one species (''Clarkia tenella'') is native to South Americ ...
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Clarkia tembloriensis
''Clarkia tembloriensis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family, known by the common name Temblor Range clarkia and belonging to the Onagraceae family.
Description
''Clarkia tembloriensis'' is an erect annual herb ...
''
*''
Clarkia tenella
''Clarkia'' is a genus within the flowering plant family Onagraceae. Over 40 species are currently classified in ''Clarkia''; almost all are native to western North America, though one species (''Clarkia tenella'') is native to South America.
...
Clarkia virgata
''Clarkia virgata'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Sierra clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the forests and woodlands of the Sierra Nevada.
Description
This is ...
''
*''
Clarkia williamsonii
''Clarkia williamsonii'' is a species of flowering plant endemic to California, where it is known from the forests and woodlands of the northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills.
Description
''Clarkia williamsonii'' is an erect annual herb wi ...
''
*''
Clarkia xantiana
''Clarkia xantiana'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name gunsight clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the southern Sierra Nevada and its foothills and the adjacent Tran ...