Clarkia purpurea

Clarkia purpurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Myrtales
Family:Onagraceae
Genus:Clarkia
Species: C. purpurea
Binomial name
Clarkia purpurea
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:

  • Clarkia purpurea ssp. purpurea [4]
  • Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera [5]
  • Clarkia purpurea ssp. viminea [6]

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]

References

  1. ↑ Calflora database: Clarkia purpurea . 2.2.2013
  2. ↑ Jepson: distribution map .accessed 2.2.2013
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network (NPIN): Clarkia purpurea (Winecup clarkia) . accessed 2.2.2013
  4. ↑ Calflora database: Clarkia purpurea ssp. purpurea
  5. ↑ Calflora database: Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera
  6. ↑ Calflora database: Clarkia purpurea ssp. viminea


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