Vernal pool Indian paintbrush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vernal pool Indian paintbrush
Scientific classification
Genus:	Castilleja
Species:	campestris

Castilleja campestris is a type of wild flower. It is often called the vernal pool Indian paintbrush. This plant grows naturally in California and southern Oregon. It likes places that are wet for part of the year. You can often find it near vernal pools.

What is Vernal Pool Indian Paintbrush?

This plant is an annual herb. This means it lives for only one year. It grows to be about 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) tall. Its leaves are long and thin, like a narrow spear. They can grow up to 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) long.

The plant's flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster can be up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. It has green, leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts usually stay green and do not change color. The flowers themselves are bright yellow or orange.

Different Types of Vernal Pool Indian Paintbrush

There are two main types, or subspecies, of this plant. One of them is quite rare. It is called Castilleja campestris subspecies succulenta. People also call it the succulent owl's clover or fleshy Indian paintbrush.

This rare subspecies only grows in California. You can find it in the San Joaquin Valley and the lower parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Its natural home, the vernal pools, has been mostly destroyed. This happened because of human activities. For example, land was used for farming and building new towns.

See also

In Spanish: Castilleja campestris para niños