Clarkia dudleyana
Encyclopedia
Clarkia dudleyana is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family
known by the common name Dudley's clarkia. It is endemic to California
, where it can be found in the mountains of the Transverse Ranges
and the southern Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in woodland, forest, and chaparral
habitats under 1500 meters in elevation. This annual herb produces an erect stem sometimes exceeding half a meter in height. The leaves are lance-shaped, up to 7 centimeters long, and borne on short petioles
. The top of the stem is occupied by the inflorescence
, which has opening flowers below closed, hanging buds. As the flower blooms the pink to reddish-purple sepal
s remain fused, opening along one side only. The petals are up to 3 centimeters long, fan-shaped, pinkish lavender in color and sometimes flecked with red. There are 8 stamen
s, some of which have large lavender anthers and some that have smaller, paler anthers. The stigma
protrudes farther than the stamens.
Onagraceae
Onagraceae, also known as the Willowherb family or Evening Primrose family, are a family of flowering plants. The family includes about 640-650 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees in 20-24 genera...
known by the common name Dudley's clarkia. It 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 can be found in the mountains of the Transverse Ranges
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
and the southern Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in woodland, forest, and chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
habitats under 1500 meters in elevation. This annual herb produces an erect stem sometimes exceeding half a meter in height. The leaves are lance-shaped, up to 7 centimeters long, and borne on short petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. The top of the stem is occupied by the inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
, which has opening flowers below closed, hanging buds. As the flower blooms the pink to reddish-purple 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 remain fused, opening along one side only. The petals are up to 3 centimeters long, fan-shaped, pinkish lavender in color and sometimes flecked with red. There are 8 stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s, some of which have large lavender anthers and some that have smaller, paler 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 farther than the stamens.