About Clarkia pulchella Pursh
Clarkia pulchella Pursh is an herbaceous perennial plant, and it is the type species of the genus Clarkia. This plant grows to a height of 10 to 50 cm (3+7⁄8 to 19+5⁄8 inches), it has an erect growth form, may be branched or unbranched, and its surface is covered with short hairs. Its leaves grow alternately along the stem, are shaped like lances or spoons, are about 2 to 7 cm (3⁄4 to 2+3⁄4 inches) long, and sometimes have fine teeth along their edges. The distinctive flowers range in color from lavender to light purple; they have four lobes that are fused at the base. Each of these four lobes is itself divided into three smaller lobes, with the middle lobe being the widest. Clarkia pulchella is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, found mainly east of the Cascade Range in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, along the southern margin of British Columbia, and in extreme western Montana. It grows across a wide range of elevations, and is most common between 610 and 1,520 m (2,000 to 5,000 ft). Its typical habitats include forests, rocky areas, grasslands, and disturbed areas.
