Taxon Report

Clarkia borealis E. Small ssp. borealis

northern clarkia

Print Report


©2018 Sierra Pacific Industries

Taxon Summary

Clarkia borealis ssp. borealis, commonly known as northern clarkia, is a annual herb in the Onagraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 400 to 1565 meters. Clarkia borealis ssp. borealis is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Clarkia borealis E. Small ssp. borealis
Common Name:
 northern clarkia
Family: Onagraceae
Element Code: PDONA05062
USDA Plants Symbol: CLBOB
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Sep Jun-Sep
Elevation: 400-1565 (1310-5135)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Roadsides (often)
Microhabitat Details: often roadcuts

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 4.3
Global Rank: G3T4
State Rank:
 S4
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_UCSC; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 1B.3 to 4.3 on 2020-03-16

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 131
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 16
   Good (B) 75
   Fair (C) 16
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 24

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Shasta (SHA), Trinity (TRI)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Bend (4112118), Bohemotash Mtn. (4012274), Bollibokka Mtn. (4012282), Chalk Mtn. (4012187), Chicken Hawk Hill (4112214), Damnation Peak (4012285), Devils Rock (4012271), Goose Gap (4012281), Hanland Peak (4012283), Lamoine (4012284), Miller Mtn. (4012167), Minnesota Mtn. (4012272), Montgomery Creek (4012178), O'Brien (4012273), Papoose Creek (4012276), Project City (4012263), Roaring Creek (4012188), Schell Mtn. (4012275), Shasta Dam (4012264), Shoeinhorse Mtn. (4112211), Skunk Ridge (4112117), Tombstone Mtn. (4112213), Trinity Center (4012286), Whitmore (4012168), Yellowjacket Mtn. (4112212)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 12
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
103 79 %
Logging 80 61%
Road/trail construction/maint. 50 38%
Other 9 6%
Non-native plant impacts 6 4%
Erosion/runoff 5 3%
Biocides 4 3%
ORV activity 2 1%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 1 0%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 1 0%
Foot traffic/trampling 1 0%
Improper burning regime 1 0%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 1 0%

Notes
Threats:
Possibly threatened by non-native plants. Potentially threatened by timber harvest activities. 
Taxonomy:
Distinctiveness from ssp. arida needs study. 

Selected References

CRPR List Change on 2020-03-16
USFS Potential Species of Conservation Concern Profile
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 27 January 2025].