Clarkia lingulata

Merced clarkia

Family: Onagraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Merced clarkia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada Foothills in open chaparral on steep north-facing slopes of the Merced River Canyon, Mariposa County at elevations of 400 to 450 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces bright pink flowers with red flecks and lavender outer anthers in delicate rotate blossoms up to two centimeters long. Growing with erect stems less than six decimeters tall that are finely puberulent, it has an elegant upright structure. Its narrow leaves range from linear to lance-shaped, measuring two to six centimeters long with petioles less than 1.5 centimeters. Its distinctive flower buds are notably pendent, with recurved tips and sepals remaining fused in groups of four.

Habitat: Open chaparral, steep n-facing slopes

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: 400-450 m

Bioregions: c SNF (2 sites, Merced River Canyon, Mariposa Co.).

California counties: Mariposa, Merced

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.