Plant
Ragged Robin
Clarkia pulchella
Photo: Dinkum, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Names
A Singular Plant in Blume
Habitat
Steep, fertile hillsides and open grasslands
First Observed
1806-06-01
Observed At
Near Kamiah, along the Clearwater River, Idaho County, Idaho
On June 1, 1806, Lewis “met with a singular plant today in blume” and collected it on the steep, fertile hills northeast of Kamiah, Idaho. Frederick Pursh named the entire genus Clarkia in honor of William Clark — just as the genus Lewisia honors Meriwether Lewis. The species name “pulchella” means “beautiful.” Also known as pinkfairies and deerhorn clarkia, this delicate wildflower represents one of the expedition’s most enduring botanical legacies.
Journal Excerpt
Lewis, June 1, 1806: "I met with a singular plant today in blume, of which I preserved a specimne; it grows on the steep sides of the fertile hills near this place."
Journal References
11 journal entries mention Ragged Robin
Oct
18
1804
Clark: October 18, 1804
...erogue
Desending from hunting, & complained of the Mandans robing them of 4
Traps ther fur & Seeveral othr articles Those men were in the imploy
of our Ricaree in...
Aug
22
1805
Clark: August 22, 1805
...every other part of a light brown, and about the
Size of a robin. Some fiew Pine Scattered in the bottoms & Sides of
the Mountains (the Top of the Motn. to the lef...
Aug
22
1805
Lewis: August 22, 1805
...ery other part of a dark brown. it was about the
size of a robin-
Aug
24
1805
Lewis: August 24, 1805
...en to be successfull either in destroying their enemies or
robing them of their horses, or individually stealing the horses of an
enemy. these are considered acts ...
Jan
31
1806
Clark: January 31, 1806
...imes. this berd is about the Size as near
as may be of the robin. it's contour is also presisely the Same with that
bird. it measured one foot 3/4 inches from tip ...
Mar
4
1806
Clark: March 4, 1806
...skets with hot
Stones is not so good.
The turtle doves and robin are the Same of those of our countrey and are
found as well as the plains as open countrey. the Co...
May
17
1806
Clark: May 17, 1806
Saturday 17th May 1806 rained moderately all the last night and this morning untill we are wet. The little river on which we are encamped...
May
29
1806
Clark: May 29, 1806
Thursday 29th of May 1806 No movement of the party to day worthy of notice. we have once more a good Stock of Meat and...
Jun
1
1806
Lewis: June 1, 1806
Sunday June 1st 1806. Yesterday evening Charbono an LaPage returned, having made a broken voyage. they ascended the river on this side nearly opposite to...
Jul
1
1806
Lewis: July 1, 1806
...ill crain, prarie hen with
the short and pointed tail, the robin, a speceis of brown plover, a few
curloos, small black birds, ravens hawks and a variety of sparro...
Jul
6
1806
Lewis: July 6, 1806
... horses. saw some Curloos, bee martains
woodpeckers plover robins, doves, ravens, hawks and a variety of sparrows
common to the plains also some ducks. the North f...
