Clarkia rostrata
Beaked clarkia
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Clarkia rostrata (Beaked clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by the distinctive long beak on fruits.
Beaked clarkia is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada foothills in Mariposa County and San Joaquin Valley in oak and pine woodland at approximately 500 meters elevation. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink to lavender flowers with fan-shaped petals 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, shading to white near the middle and often darker-flecked with a red-purple base. Growing with erect stems less than 60 centimeters tall that are puberulent, it develops slender stems with delicate branch structures. Its leaves are lanceolate, 1 to 6 centimeters long with petioles shorter than 10 millimeters, positioned along the stem with subtle variations. The fruit develops a distinctive 7 to 15 millimeter beak, giving this clarkia its unique namesake characteristic.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species; key feature is the distinctive long beak on fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Oak/pine woodland
Elevation: +- 500 m.
California counties: Mariposa, Stanislaus, Merced
Bloom period
Clarkia rostrata blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Epilobium: Clarkia seeds lack a hair tuft and its petals are broad, often clawed or lobed; Epilobium and Chamerion have seeds bearing a tuft of silky hairs and long, thin capsules.; vs Oenothera: Clarkia flowers are pink to lavender-purple and its buds nod before opening; Oenothera flowers are generally yellow (or white), larger, and open at dusk.; vs Camissonia: Clarkia petals are pink-purple, often fan-shaped or lobed with a distinct claw; Camissonia and Camissoniopsis have yellow, unlobed petals.; vs Sidalcea: Clarkia has 4 petals, an inferior ovary, and a 4-lobed stigma; Sidalcea (checkerbloom) has 5 petals, a superior ovary, and a central mallow staminal column.; vs Gayophytum: Clarkia is showy with petals 10-35 mm; Gayophytum has minute white-to-pink flowers only a few mm across on thread-like branches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarkia rostrata native to California?
Yes. Clarkia rostrata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia rostrata bloom?
Clarkia rostrata blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Clarkia rostrata grow?
Clarkia rostrata occurs in Mariposa, Stanislaus, Merced, at elevations of +- 500 m..
What plant family does Clarkia rostrata belong to?
Clarkia rostrata is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
Is Clarkia rostrata rare or endangered?
Clarkia rostrata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.