Castilleja linariifolia facts for kids
Castilleja linariifolia is a special plant known by many names, like Wyoming Indian paintbrush. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. This beautiful plant grows naturally in the United States. It's even the official state flower of Wyoming!
Quick facts for kids Castilleja linariifolia |
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| Castilleja linariifolia, in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Castilleja
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| Species: |
linariifolia
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What It Looks Like
This plant can grow quite tall, up to about one meter (which is about 3 feet). It has thin, long leaves that are usually between 20 and 80 millimeters long. Some leaves might have up to three small points or lobes.
The flowers of the Indian paintbrush are very colorful. They can be pinkish-red or yellow. These flowers grow in clusters, like spikes or bunches. You can usually see them blooming from June to September.
Where It Grows
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You can find the Wyoming Indian paintbrush in dry, rocky areas. It often grows on hillsides or wide, flat plains. It likes to grow near plants like sagebrush. You might also see it in forests with pinyon pine or juniper trees.
This plant is native to many states in the western United States. These include:
Wyoming's State Flower
Every state in the U.S. has a special state flower. For Wyoming, the Indian paintbrush was chosen. A smart lady named Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard helped make this happen. She worked at the University of Wyoming.
Dr. Hebard really wanted the Indian paintbrush to be the state flower. She thought it was a better choice than other flowers. Some of the other flowers considered were the columbine and the fringed gentian.
Finally, on January 31, 1917, Wyoming officially picked the Indian paintbrush. It became the state flower of Wyoming.
