Inflorescences: axis erect, or prostrate to decumbent (C. davyi, C. prostrata); buds erect. Flowers: floral tube funnelform to obconical, 2–15 mm; sepals reflexed individually or in pairs; petals lavender-pink to dark wine-red, shading white or yellow near middle or base, usually purplish red-spotted, obovate to obdeltate, unlobed, claw inconspicuous or absent; stamens 8, subequal. Capsules conspicuously 8-ribbed; subsessile.

Distribution

w North America, nw Mexico, w South America.

Discussion

Species 7 (6 in the flora).

Clarkia tenella (Cavanilles) H. Lewis & M. E. Lewis, with three subspecies, is known from Argentina and Chile, and is the only species of Clarkia not known to occur naturally in North America.

Some of the common cultivars of Clarkia in the horticulture trade are members of sect. Godetia, with their relatively large bowl-shaped flowers, and some cultivars (particularly of C. speciosa) are still on the market as Godetia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Clarkia davyi, Clarkia imbricata, Clarkia prostrata, Clarkia purpurea, Clarkia speciosa, Clarkia williamsonii