About Clarkia heterandra (Torr.) F.H.Lewis & P.H.Raven
Clarkia heterandra is a species of flowering plant in the family Onagraceae, commonly called mountain clarkia. This species is endemic to California, growing in the forests and woodlands of several eastern and western mountain ranges across the state. It is an annual herb that grows an erect, glandular stem that reaches a maximum height of around half a meter. Its leaves are lance-shaped to oval, grow up to 8 centimeters long, and are borne on petioles that can be up to 2 centimeters in length. An inflorescence occupies the top of the stem, holding both open flowers and closed buds. As the flower blooms, its sepals stay fused, and the flower emerges from one side of this fused structure. The petals are pink, oval-shaped, and only a few millimeters long. There are 8 stamens, a mix of larger stamens and smaller, sterile stamens. The fruit is a small, hard structure 2 to 3 millimeters long, containing 1 or 2 seeds.
