Clarkia exilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kern River clarkia |
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| Clarkia exilis | |
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| Genus: |
Clarkia
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| Species: |
exilis
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Clarkia exilis is a small, pretty plant. It grows for only one year. You might know it as the Kern River clarkia or slender clarkia. It belongs to the evening primrose family. This plant is not very common. It grows in western North America.
What Does Kern River Clarkia Look Like?
The Kern River clarkia is a plant that lives for just one year. It has a thin, straight stem. This stem can grow taller than half a meter (about 20 inches).
Its leaves are bright green. They are shaped like a spear or a narrow oval. The leaves are smooth, without hairs. They can be up to 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) long. Sometimes, they don't have a small stalk called a petiole that connects them to the stem.
At the top of the stem, you'll find the inflorescence. This is where the flowers grow together. Some flowers are open, while others are still closed buds. These buds point downwards.
The plant has parts called sepals and an ovary. These might have a few hairs. The sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They stay joined together on one side as the flower opens.
Each flower has four petals. Each petal has a narrow base, like a claw. The main part of the petal is shaped like a diamond. The whole petal can be up to 1.5 centimeters (about 0.6 inches) long. They are usually white, light purple, or pink. Sometimes, they have a purple spot.
The flower has eight stamens. These are the parts that make pollen. Four stamens have larger, reddish tips called anthers. The other four have smaller, paler anthers. When the flower is fully grown, the stigma (the part that receives pollen) is the same length as the stamens.
After the flower is pollinated, it forms a fruit. This fruit is a long, thin capsule. It can be up to 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long and 2 millimeters (about 0.08 inches) wide. Inside, it can hold anywhere from a few to 80 tiny seeds.
Where Does Kern River Clarkia Grow?
The Kern River clarkia is a special plant. It is endemic to California. This means it only grows naturally in California and nowhere else in the world.
You can find it in the woodlands of the southern Sierra Nevada foothills. This area is just northeast of a city called Bakersfield. It also grows in the nearby Tehachapi Mountains.
Most of these plants grow close to the Kern River and the streams that flow into it. A few populations can also be found to the west. These are in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada as they go down towards the Great Central Valley.
