Clarkia purpurea

Clarkia purpurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Clarkia
Species: C. purpurea
Binomial name
Clarkia purpurea
(Curtis) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera, western Mount Tamalpais, California.
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera, Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Poway, San Diego County, California.

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; Washington; and British Columbia. — where it is found in a diverse variety of habitats. In the California Floristic Province it is found in all the zones, except the deserts, from the coasts to high interior mountains, including the Sierra Nevada. [1][2]

Description

Clarkia purpurea erects a thin reddish stem which may approach 1 meter (3 ft.) in height and has a few lance-shaped leaves. [3]

The bowl-shaped flowers have four petals, usually one to two centimeters long. They are in shades of pink, purple, or deep wine red; often with a streak or spot of pink or red in the middle. [3]

Subspecies

Subspecies include:

Uses

The Indigenous peoples of California sowed the plant, to later harvest the seeds to grind for food.[3]

The conspicuous flowers support native bees, making it a "honey plant".[3]

See also

References

External links

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