''Clarkia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

within the

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

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 trees North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, 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 southe ...

. 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 b ...

s and four

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

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'', and '' Clarkia lassenensis'' (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 English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

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 both ...

plants, for example the mountain garland, ''

Clarkia unguiculata ''Clarkia unguiculata'' is a species of wildflower known by the common name elegant clarkia or mountain garland. This plant is endemic to California, where it is found in many woodland habitats. Specifically it is common on the forest floor of man ...

'', the redspot clarkia, ''

Clarkia speciosa ''Clarkia speciosa'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name redspot clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the Central Coast and mountains and from the Sierra Nevada foothil ...

'', Farewell to Spring, ''

Clarkia amoena ''Clarkia amoena'' (farewell to spring or godetia; syn. ''Godetia amoena'') is a flowering plant native to western North America, found in coastal hills and mountains from British Columbia south to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is an annual ...

'' and ''

Clarkia bottae ''Clarkia bottae'' is a species of wildflower with several common names, including punchbowl godetia, Botta's clarkia, Botta's fairyfan, and hill clarkia. Description ''Clarkia bottae'' produces spindly, waxy stems which may approach a meter in ...

''. There are cultivated varieties of some of these species.

Ecology

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, bu ...

moths.

Species

;Selected species: *'' Clarkia affinis'' *''

'' (Farewell to Spring) *''

Clarkia arcuata ''Clarkia arcuata'' is a species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae, evening primrose family known by the common name glandular clarkia. It is Endemism, endemic to California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodlands of the foothills of th ...

'' *''

Clarkia australis ''Clarkia australis'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Small's southern clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the forests of the central Sierra Nevada. It is an uncommon s ...

'' *''

Clarkia biloba ''Clarkia biloba'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name twolobe clarkia and two lobed clarkia.

'' *''

Clarkia borealis ''Clarkia borealis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae, evening primrose family known by the common name northern clarkia. It is Endemism, endemic to California, where it is known from the forests of the southern Klamath Rang ...

'' *''

Clarkia breweri ''Clarkia breweri'' is a species of wildflower known by the common names fairy fans and Brewer's clarkia. This rare plant is endemic to California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With ...

'' *''

Clarkia concinna ''Clarkia concinna'' is a species of wildflower known as red ribbons. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in the low-elevation mountains of the northern part of the state. This is an annual plant with erect, herbaceous stems. The ...

'' *''

Clarkia cylindrica ''Clarkia cylindrica'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name speckled fairyfan, or speckled clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the chaparral, oak woodlands, and grasslands ...

'' *''

Clarkia davyi ''Clarkia davyi'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Davy's fairyfan, or Davy's clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it grows in coastal habitats such as beaches and bluffs. This is an ...

'' *''

Clarkia delicata ''Clarkia delicata'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common names Campo clarkia and delicate clarkia. It is native to northern Baja California and adjacent San Diego County, California, where it ...

'' *''

Clarkia dudleyana ''Clarkia dudleyana'' is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Dudley's clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in the mountains of the Transverse Ranges and the southern Sierra ...

'' *'' Clarkia epilobioides'' *'' Clarkia exilis'' *''

Clarkia franciscana ''Clarkia franciscana'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Presidio clarkia. It is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area of California, where it is known only from two populations at the ...

'' *'' Clarkia gracilis'' *'' Clarkia heterandra'' *'' Clarkia imbricata'' *'' Clarkia jolonensis'' *'' Clarkia lassenensis'' *'' Clarkia lewisii'' *''

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 modesta'' *''

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 be ...

'' *'' Clarkia prostrata'' *''

Clarkia pulchella ''Clarkia pulchella'' also known as pinkfairies, ragged robin, and deerhorn clarkia is a species of flowering plant in the family Onagraceae. Description An herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, it is the type species of ''Clarkia''. Thi ...

'' *''

Clarkia purpurea ''Clarkia purpurea'' is a species of wildflower known by the common names winecup clarkia, winecup fairyfan, and purple clarkia. This annual plant is native to western North America, including: Baja California; California; Arizona; Oregon; Was ...

'' *'' Clarkia rhomboidea'' *''

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 rubicunda ''Clarkia rubicunda'' is a flowering plant endemic to California. It is found mostly on the Central Coast part of the state. The plant is known by the common names ''Ruby Chalice Clarkia'' and ''Farewell to Spring''. ''Clarkia rubicunda'' bears ...

'' *'' Clarkia similis'' *''

'' *''

Clarkia springvillensis ''Clarkia springvillensis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Springville clarkia. It is endemic to central Tulare County, California, where it is known from fewer than 20 occurrences ar ...

'' *'' Clarkia stellata'' *'' Clarkia tembloriensis'' *'' Clarkia tenella'' *''

'' (Mountain Garland; syn. ''C. elegans'') *'' Clarkia virgata'' *'' Clarkia williamsonii'' *'' Clarkia xantiana ''

References

External links

* *
Jepson Manual treatment of the genus
{{Taxonbar, from=Q159402 Onagraceae genera