Clarkia unguiculata
Encyclopedia
Clarkia unguiculata is a species of wildflower
known by the common name elegant clarkia. This plant is endemic to California
, where it is found in many woodland habitat
s. Specifically it is common on the forest floor of many oak woodlands, along with typical understory
wildflowers that include Calochortus luteus
, Cynoglossum grande
and Delphinium variegatum
. C. unguiculata presents a spindly, hairless, waxy stem not exceeding a meter in height and bears occasional narrow leaves. The showy flowers have hairy, fused sepal
s forming a cup beneath the corolla, and four petals each one to 2.5 centimeters long. The paddle-like petals are a shade of pink to reddish to purple and are slender and diamond-shaped or triangular. There are eight long stamen
s, the outer four of which have large red anthers. The stigma
protrudes from the flower and can be quite large. Flowers of the genus Clarkia are primarily pollinated by speciallist bees found in their native habitat "Clarkias independently developed self-pollination in 12 lineages."
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
known by the common name elegant clarkia. This plant is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is found in many woodland habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s. Specifically it is common on the forest floor of many oak woodlands, along with typical understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
wildflowers that include Calochortus luteus
Calochortus luteus
Calochortus luteus, or Yellow mariposa lily, is a mariposa lily endemic to California.-Description:The primarily a bright deep yellow flower is 3-5cm across and perianth Bulb-shaped, lined red-brown inside, often also with central red-brown blotch and sparse hair inside.-Distribution:This species...
, Cynoglossum grande
Cynoglossum grande
Cynoglossum grande is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name Pacific hound's tongue. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in shady areas in woodland and chaparral...
and Delphinium variegatum
Delphinium variegatum
Delphinium variegatum is a species of larkspur known by the common name Royal larkspur. It is endemic to California, where it grows in mountains, valley and coast in woodlands and grasslands...
. C. unguiculata presents a spindly, hairless, waxy stem not exceeding a meter in height and bears occasional narrow leaves. The showy flowers have hairy, fused sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s forming a cup beneath the corolla, and four petals each one to 2.5 centimeters long. The paddle-like petals are a shade of pink to reddish to purple and are slender and diamond-shaped or triangular. There are eight long stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s, the outer four of which have large red anthers. The stigma
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
protrudes from the flower and can be quite large. Flowers of the genus Clarkia are primarily pollinated by speciallist bees found in their native habitat "Clarkias independently developed self-pollination in 12 lineages."