Clarkia unguiculata

Clarkia unguiculata is a species of wildflower known by the common name elegant clarkia or mountain garland.

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C. unguiculata presents a spindly, hairless, waxy stem with a red hue. The species can grow up to 3 ft (0.9 m) tall with a small number of leaves populating the stem. The showy flowers have hairy, fused sepals forming a cup beneath the corolla, and four petals each one to 2.5 cm (1.0 in) long. The paddle-like petals come in shades of pink to reddish to purple and are slender and diamond-shaped or triangular in a raceme formation, in which each flower is connected to the main stalk by a pedicel, a short stem extension. There are eight long stamens, the outer four of which have large red anthers. The stigma protrudes from the flower and can be quite large. Its pistil is a long white structure, this combined with the red stamens allow this flower to be easily identifiable. The base of the stem has the leaves arranged in an opposite formation, however further up the stem the leaf arrangement becomes alternate. Produces a small indehiscent fruit, similar to a nut which hold the many little seeds.

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Clarkia unguiculata is pollinated by a variety of bees, butterflies and some bats. The main pollinator is Hesperapis regularis, a native species of bees found in similar environments to C. unguiculata. This plant has the ability to self-pollinate. This means the species is less reliant on the presence of pollinators like bees or butterflies to propagate itself. The caterpillars of the mariposa forester feed on it.

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