Stems erect, 30–90 cm, puberulent. Leaves: petiole to 8 mm; blade narrowly lanceolate to elliptic, 2–4 cm. Inflores­cences open racemes, axis recurved at tip in bud; buds pendent. Flowers: floral-tube 1.5–2 mm; sepals reflexed together to 1 side; corolla rotate to bowl-shaped, petals pale-pink shading nearly white near base, purple-flecked, fading pink, oblanceolate or obovate to diamond-shaped, 6–10 mm; stamens 8, unequal, outer anthers dark-pink, inner smaller, paler; ovary shallowly 8-grooved. Capsules 15–30 mm; subsessile. Seeds brown, 1 mm, tuberculate, crest inconspicuous. 2n = 34.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Shady sites, oak woodlands, chaparral.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Mexico (Baja California)

Discussion

Clarkia similis is known from southwestern California and northern Baja California, Mexico, mainly in the South Coast, Transverse, and Peninsular ranges, from Monterey and San Benito counties in the north to San Diego County in the south. Reports from the Southern Sierra Nevada Foothills in Kern County and the Sacramento Valley in Tehama County are not confirmed.

Clarkia similis is a tetraploid species derived through polyploidization following hybridization between C. epilobioides and C. modesta.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.