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Cahaba Indian paintbrush
Scientific Name: Castilleja kraliana
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual, Biennial
Other Names:
Cahaba Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja kraliana)
The Cahaba Indian Paintbrush, scientifically known as Castilleja kraliana, is a unique wildflower species found in specific regions of Alabama. It is also referred to simply as Cahaba Paintbrush or Cahaba Indian-paintbrush.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Castilleja kraliana J. Allison
- Common Names: Cahaba Indian Paintbrush, Cahaba Paintbrush
- Family: Orobanchaceae (also listed as Scrophulariaceae in some sources, reflecting a previous classification)
- Group: Dicot
- Rank: Species
Distribution and Habitat
- The Cahaba Indian Paintbrush is endemic to the Ketona Dolomite glades along the Little Cahaba River.
- It can be found in Bibb County, Alabama.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Castilleja kraliana is a forb/herb, which is a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
- It can be either an annual or biennial plant.
- Flowers are green and yellow, arranged in a spike.
- The adult species reach a medium size, growing up to 14 meters in height (note: this height seems unusually large and might be a typo in the source text).
Ecological Role
- Texas Paintbrush (likely referring to another Castilleja species) is mentioned as a hemiparasitic plant. While the text doesn't explicitly state that C. kraliana is hemiparasitic, other members of the Castilleja genus are known to be, suggesting a similar ecological role might be possible.
Quirky Facts
- While generally green in the spring, the Cahaba Indian Paintbrush isn't an evergreen and "assumes a pink coloring."
Further Information
- USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database is a referenced source of information.