Leaf-blades broadly lanceolate to elliptic or ovate, 1.5–4.5 cm, length usually less than 5 times width. Inflorescences dense ra­cemes. Flowers: petals lavender to purple or purplish red, often with darker spot near tip, 10–25 mm; stigma exserted beyond anthers. 2n = 52.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Grasslands, often in moist conditions.
Elevation: 0–100 m.

Discussion

Subspecies purpurea is widely distributed but uncommon in California and southern Oregon.

Collections matching the original description and illustration are rare, probably because the grassland habitat in and around the Central Valley where it grew is very desirable for development and, therefore, much altered. Intermediates with the two other subspecies are now more frequent than the typical subspecies.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Harlan Lewis† +  and Peter C. Hoch +
(Curtis) A. Nelson & J. F. Macbride +
straight +
prostrate +  and decumbent +
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
Oenothera purpurea +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
indehiscent +  and loculicidal +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (4.5 cm45 mm <br />0.045 m <br />) +
broadly lanceolate +  and elliptic or ovate +
denticulate +  and entire +
narrowly lanceolate +  and elliptic or ovate +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
curved +  and straight +
indehiscent +  and loculicidal +
terete +, 4-angled +, clavate +, fusiform +, cylindrical +  and elongate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
elongated +
inconspicuous +
bowl--shaped +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +
Calif. +  and Oreg. +
0–100 m. +
basifixed +  and versatile +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
actinomorphic +
protandrous +  and bisexual +
pedicellate +  and sessile +
curved +  and straight +
indehiscent +  and loculicidal +
terete +, 4-angled +, clavate +, fusiform +, cylindrical +  and elongate +
Grasslands, often in moist conditions. +
unicellular-papillose +
deciduous +
purple spot +  and red +
numerous +  and 1 +
lavender +  and purple or purplish red +
unlobed +, obovate +  and obdeltate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Flowering Apr–Jun. +
red +, lavender +, blue-gray +, yellow +  and cream +
basal +  and cauline +
several +  and 1 +
clavate +  and globose +
gray +  and brown +
few +  and numerous +
sculptured +  and smooth +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
pink +  and purplish red +
deciduous +
in pairs +  and reflexed +
parenchymatous +
parietal +, axile +  and placentation +
1 +, 4 +  and 2 +
unequal +
aquatic +, amphibious +  and terrestrial +
subequal +
2 times as many or as many as sepals +
unbranched +  and sparsely branched +
decumbent +  and prostrate +
rarely +  and erect +
glaucous or +  and sparsely densely puberulent +
slender +  and stout +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (100 cm1,000 mm <br />1 m <br />) +
petiolate +  and sessile +
intrapetiolar +
aquatic +, amphibious +  and terrestrial +
Godetia purpurea +
Clarkia purpurea subsp. purpurea +
Clarkia purpurea +
subspecies +
3(-5)-aperturate +
darker spot +
short-acute +
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
smooth +  and erose +
papillate +