Castilleja angustifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castilleja angustifolia |
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Castilleja
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angustifolia
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The northwestern Indian paintbrush (scientific name: Castilleja angustifolia) is a beautiful wildflower. It is also called the desert Indian paintbrush. This plant is a type of perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows naturally in the western parts of North America. You can find it in dry places like deserts, scrublands, and woodlands. It prefers hot, sandy soils and can even grow in cracks in rocks where conditions are very dry.
Contents
About the Indian Paintbrush
This Indian paintbrush plant usually grows to be less than half a meter tall. It has stems that stand straight up in a clump. The plant's leaves and stems can be gray-green or even purple-red. They often feel a bit bristly.
Flowers and Bracts
Each stem has a group of flowers at its top, called an inflorescence. The actual flowers are small and yellow-green. They are shaped a bit like tubes. But what really makes the plant stand out are its bright bracts. Bracts are like special leaves that grow around the flowers.
These bracts are usually bright red or orange-red. Sometimes they have a purple tint. They are often covered with a thin layer of soft, white hairs. The plant blooms from May all the way through September.
Attracting Pollinators
The small yellow-green flowers might not catch much attention on their own. But the brightly colored bracts act like a big, colorful sign! They help to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies. These animals help the plant make seeds by moving pollen from one flower to another.
Seeds and Colors
After the plant flowers, it produces small fruits called capsules. These capsules are about a centimeter long. Inside, they hold seeds that have a cool honeycomb pattern. This plant can be found in different colors, including red, orange, or yellow, depending on the specific plant and its location.
See also
In Spanish: Castilleja angustifolia para niños
