Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Wyoming Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja linariifolia
Broomrape/Paintbrush family (Orobanchaceae)

This Paintbrush is quite common through much of the West. It occurs in dry areas of Sagebrush and grasses, in Pinyon/Juniper, in Ponderosa Pines, and in more moist Aspen/Conifer habitats. Castilleja linariifolia is distinguished from other mountain Paintbrush especially by this habit of growing not only in the mountains but also at lower elevations and by its very narrow leaves (usually , but occasionally on upper leaves). Several other characteristics assist -- but are not as consistent: The plant is commonly over two feet tall and even up to four feet tall and it is often branched. George Bentham named this plant in 1846 from a specimen collected in 1842 by John Fremont in present day eastern Wyoming. Castilleja linariifolia is the state flower of Wyoming.


©2005 Al Schneider, ©2006 Al Schneider

Description

plants with stems to 3'+ tall, to hairy (especially lower on the plant). Leaves to 4" long, , to sparingly hairy, or deeply divided. are red or scarlet, divided into . is scarlet or red, finely hairy. is from 1-2" long, green yellow. is a .

Field Marks

Tall branched Paintbrush with numerous red and a red .

© Al Schneider

An entire leaf has smooth edges. Not toothed or lobed.

corolla -- The name for all the petals of a flower taken together.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

linear -- Long and very narrow like a blade of grass.

lobe -- A rounded parts of a leaf (or other organ).

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

Bracts are modified leaves associated with a flower.

calyx -- the sepals of a flower, typically forming a whorl that encloses the petals and forms a protective layer around a flower in bud.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

glabrous -- smooth, glossy, having no bristles or hair-like structures. Bald.

lobe -- Being divided by clefts.