Clarkia jolonensis
Encyclopedia
Clarkia jolonensis is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family
known by the common name Jolon clarkia. It is endemic to Monterey County, California
, where it is known from the woodlands of the Central Coast Ranges.
with opening flowers below an erect array of closed, hanging flower buds. The sepal
s of the bud remain fused as it opens into a bloom. The fan-shaped lavender petals are often flecked with red and tinted with pink, each measuring one or two centimeters long. There are 8 stamen
s, some of which have large lavender anthers, and some bearing smaller, paler anthers.
This plant is very similar to, and historically confused with, Clarkia lewisii
, which differs from C. jolonensis in that the former has a curved inflorescence
with closely packed nodding flower buds, while the latter has an erect, widely spaced inflorescence. Some of the few known occurrences of this plant may actually be its sister species, making it rarer than officially listed.
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 Jolon clarkia. It is endemic to Monterey County, California
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
, where it is known from the woodlands of the Central Coast Ranges.
Description
This is an erect annual herb growing a hairless, waxy stem up to about half a meter in maximum height. The leaves are lance-shaped and a few centimeters long. The top of the stem is occupied by an erect inflorescenceInflorescence
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...
with opening flowers below an erect array of closed, hanging flower buds. The 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 of the bud remain fused as it opens into a bloom. The fan-shaped lavender petals are often flecked with red and tinted with pink, each measuring one or two centimeters long. 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 bearing smaller, paler anthers.
This plant is very similar to, and historically confused with, Clarkia lewisii
Clarkia lewisii
Clarkia lewisii is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name Lewis' clarkia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the hills and mountains of Monterey and San Benito Counties. It is an erect annual herb generally under half a meter...
, which differs from C. jolonensis in that the former has a curved 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...
with closely packed nodding flower buds, while the latter has an erect, widely spaced inflorescence. Some of the few known occurrences of this plant may actually be its sister species, making it rarer than officially listed.