Stems erect, to 60 cm, puberulent. Leaves: petiole to 10 mm; blade lanceolate, 1–6 cm. Inflorescences open ra­cemes, axis recurved at tip in bud; buds pendent. Flowers: floral tube 1.5–2.5 mm, with ring of hairs at distal margin inside; sepals reflexed together to 1 side; corolla bowl-shaped, petals pinkish laven­der shading white near middle, often flecked reddish purple, base reddish purple, 10–25 mm; stamens 8, unequal, width of all filaments equal or inner slightly thinner, outer anthers lavender, inner smaller, paler. Capsules 10–30 mm, beak 7–15 mm. Seeds unknown. 2n = 18.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Oak-pine woodlands.
Elevation: 500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

Clarkia rostrata is known only from the Merced River drainage in the central Sierra Nevada Foothills, including Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, and (barely) Tuolumne counties. Because of its very limited distribution, C. rostrata is listed as rare by the Cali­fornia Native Plant Society.

Clarkia rostrata is closely related to C. cylindrica and C. lewisii but can be distinguished readily from both by the conspicuous beak of the capsule.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.