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western Indian paintbrush
Scientific Name: Castilleja occidentalis
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Subshrub, Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja spp.)
Indian paintbrush, also known as prairie-fire, belongs to the genus Castilleja, which encompasses approximately 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants.
Considerations for Pets
- Castilleja species are root hemiparasites, meaning they derive some nutrients from host plants. While typically mild parasites, interactions with other plants may warrant observation.
Scientific Name and Common Names
- Scientific Name: Castilleja (Genus)
- Common Names: Indian paintbrush, prairie-fire
- Specific Species: Western Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja occidentalis), Desert Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa or Castilleja angustifolia), Scarlet Indian Paintbrush -or- Red Indian Paintbrush -or- Meadow Paintbrush -or- Great Red Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja)
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Castilleja
- Family: Broomrape family (Orobanchaceae) or Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae) (Note: The text references both families)
- Synonyms: (For Castilleja occidentalis) Western Indian paintbrush
- Authority: Castilleja Mutis ex L. f.
- Castilleja occidentalis Torr.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the west of North America, including the Western and Southwestern United States.
- Also found in parts of South America and North Asia.
- Specific locations mentioned include Pecos, New Mexico, Wyoming, and British Columbia, Canada, Grand Teton National Park and Banff National Park.
- Grows in forest clearings, grasslands, well-drained, open, and wooded sites.
Ecological Role
- Root hemiparasite: Castilleja obtains some nutrients by parasitizing the roots of other plants.
Morphological Characteristics
- Herbaceous plants, both annual and perennial.
- Flower stalks are characterized by bright, blunt spikes of yellow, orange, or red bracts.
Other Notable Information
- Seeds typically germinate in the fall and bloom in late spring until frost.
- Seeds require cold moist stratification to germinate.
- Color variation is significant, ranging from yellow to orange to red.
Further Resources
- Discover Life: Castilleja occidentalis - Western Indian paintbrush