Clarkia speciosa

H. Lewis & M. E. Lewis

Madroño 12: 34. 1953.

Common names: Red spotted or redspot clarkia
Basionym: Oenothera viminea var. parviflora Hooker & Arnott Bot. Beechey Voy., 342. 1839
Synonyms: Godetia parviflora (Hooker & Arnott) Jepson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 10.

Stems erect or decumbent, to 60 cm, puberulent. Leaves: petiole 0–5 mm; blade linear to lanceolate, 1–6 cm. Inflorescences open or dense racemes or panicles, axis straight; buds erect. Flowers: floral tube 5–15 mm; sepals usually reflexed individ­ually or in pairs, or rarely together to one side, tips not distinct in bud; corolla bowl-shaped, petals lavender to wine-red, often shading white or pale yellow toward base, unspotted or with bright red or purplish red spot near or proximal to middle, 10–25 mm; stamens 8, subequal; ovary 8-grooved; stigma exserted beyond anthers. Capsules 15–20 mm. Seeds brown or gray, 0.7–1 mm, scaly, crest 0.1 mm.

Discussion

Subspecies 4 (4 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Petals without red or purplish red spot. > 2
2 Stems erect to decumbent; petals dark purplish red to lavender, ± white or pale yellow near base, rarely pale yellow throughout. Clarkia speciosa subsp. speciosa
2 Stems decumbent; petals lavender to pink shading pale yellow or white in proximal 1/2. Clarkia speciosa subsp. immaculata
1 Petals with bright red or purplish red spot near or proximal to middle. > 3
3 Inflorescences dense racemes. Clarkia speciosa subsp. nitens
3 Inflorescences open racemes or panicles. > 4
4 Petals usually with bright red spot; branches on well-developed plants many, few-flowered. Clarkia speciosa subsp. speciosa
4 Petals with purplish red spot; branches on well-developed plants virgate, few, many- flowered. Clarkia speciosa subsp. polyantha