SafePlants

Pale Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja pallescens)

The Pale Indian Paintbrush, scientifically known as Castilleja pallescens, is a captivating wildflower with a variety of common names and intriguing characteristics.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant's bracts and leaves, though not explicitly toxic in the provided text, come in various colors, including red and pale green.

Considerations for Children

• The plant's bracts and leaves, though not explicitly toxic in the provided text, come in various colors, including red and pale green.

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Castilleja pallescens (A. Gray) Greenm. var. pallescens
• Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)
• Genus: Castilleja
• Species: pallescens
• Synonyms/Common Names: Pallid Indian Paintbrush, Pale Painted Cup, Northern Painted Cup, Indian Paintbrush. Other Castilleja species mentioned alongside include: Scarlet Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea), Wight's Indian Paint Brush (Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis), Exserted Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja Exserta).

Distribution and Habitat

• Dwarf Pale Indian Paintbrush is found on plains and lower mountains from central Idaho to southeast Oregon and northeast Nevada.
• Inferred distribution also includes immediately adjacent states such as Indiana and Illinois.
• Habitat includes mountain meadows and forests.

Morphological Characteristics

• The "flower" is actually a tiny, creamy white to pale yellow corolla encircled by colorful leaf-like bracts.
• Bract colors can range from pale yellow to deep purple, red, pink, orange, white (sulfur), and pale green.
• Leaves are long and narrow.
• Flowers are set in clusters, long tube-like pale green to red on the.
• Castilleja Exserta has pale green, hairy leaves up to 2 inches long, pointing upwards, divided into 5 to 9 narrow lobes.

Quirky Facts

• The Indian Paintbrush "steals other flowers' lunches," suggesting a parasitic or hemiparasitic relationship with surrounding plants.
• Black Tooth Brewing Company in Sheridan, Wyoming brews a beer called Black Tooth Indian Paintbrush Ale, an India Pale Ale (IPA). Another IPA from the same company is Indian Paintbrush IPA.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• As mentioned above, the Indian paintbrush steals resources from other flowers.

Further Information

• USDA PLANTS Database
• Discover Life
• Dave's Garden