Northern clarkia facts for kids

Clarkia borealis, also known as the northern clarkia, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the evening primrose family. This plant is quite rare.

It grows only in California, which means it is endemic to that state. You can find it in the forests of the southern Klamath Range and the very southern parts of the Cascade Range foothills.

Northern Clarkia: A Rare California Flower

The northern clarkia is a beautiful plant that doesn't live for many years. It is an annual herb, meaning it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a tall, thin stem that stands straight up.

What Does It Look Like?

The leaves of the northern clarkia are shaped like ovals. They grow on short stalks called petioles.

At the very top of the stem, you'll find the plant's flowers. This whole flower cluster is called an inflorescence. The flowers at the bottom of the cluster open first. At the top, you can see pointed flower buds that hang down.

When a flower blooms, its outer leaf-like parts, called sepals, open up. This shows off the pretty purplish-pink petals inside. Each petal is about 1 to 2 centimeters long. They are shaped like long triangles or half-circles. Sometimes, they even have small dark purple spots.

Inside the flower, there are 8 stamens. These are the parts that hold the pollen, which looks blue-gray. There is also a part called the stigma that sticks out. This part helps the plant make seeds.

Where Does It Grow?

This plant is found only in specific parts of California. It likes to grow in forest areas. Its limited home makes it even more special and rare.

Rare Subspecies

The northern clarkia has two types, called subspecies, and both are very rare.

• One type is called ssp. biloba. It is found in only about 20 places in Shasta and Trinity Counties.
• The other type is even rarer. It's called ssp. arida, and it's also known as the Shasta clarkia. This subspecies grows only in the forests around a town called Shingletown.

Because both types are so rare, it's important to protect their habitats so they can continue to grow.