Clarkia nitens H. Lewis &M. E. Lewis, Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 20: 287, fig. 8a,b. 1955

Stems erect. Leaf blades lance­olate. Inflorescences dense ra­cemes. Petals lavender shading pale yellow proximally or pale yellow throughout, with red spot near or proximal to middle. 2n = 18.

Flowering May–Jul. Woodlands; 0–700 m; Calif.

Subspecies nitens is known from the Central Valley and foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada from San Joaquin to Tulare counties, with a few collections reported in Kern and San Bernardino counties; it intergrades particularly with subsp. polyantha in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills.