Botanical name: Clarkia pulchella    Family: Onagraceae (Evening primrose family)
Synonyms: Clarkia elegans, Oenothera pulchella, Godetia pulcherrima

Clarkia is is an annual herb 10-50 cm, erect, branched or not, and covered with short hairs. The flower has been named after the great explorer Captain William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition fame to the Americas. The leaves alternate along the stalk and are lance to spoon-shaped, about 2-7 cm long and sometimes finely toothed. The distinctive lavender to light purple flowers are four-lobed and fused at the base. Each lobe is in turn three-lobed with the middle lobe widest. Double flower cultivars are most commonly seen in gardens. Double flowers are 2-3 cm across, in various colors, with a crepe-like look. Clarkia is native to North America, widely cultivated worldwide.

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The flower labeled Clarkia is ...