Clarkia stellata

Lake almanor clarkia

Family: Onagraceae · Type: annual · Native

Lake almanor clarkia is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California High Sierra, and northern Sierra Nevada in conifer forest at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this delicate plant produces lavender-purple flowers with broad petals 6 to 8 millimeters long in a distinctive pendent arrangement. Growing with erect stems less than one meter tall and covered in fine soft hairs, it has an elegant upright structure. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate, with petioles 5 to 30 millimeters long and blades 1 to 5 centimeters in length. The flower's unique features include eight stamens subtended by ciliate scales and yellow pollen, creating a charming botanical display.

Habitat: Uncommon. Conifer forest

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: 1000-1500 m

Bioregions: KR, CaRH, n SNH.

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